Yum Brands Embraces AI Revolutionizing Fast Food

Yum Brands Embraces AI Revolutionizing Fast Food

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on April 7, 2024

In today's fast-paced world, your favorite fast-food chains are embracing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance operations and customer experiences. Yum Brands, the parent company of beloved eateries like KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, is at the forefront of this technological revolution.

With approximately 45% of sales now coming from digital channels, totaling around $30 billion, Yum Brands is doubling down on AI to drive further growth and efficiency. Joe Park, Yum's chief digital and technology officer, envisions an "AI-first mentality" permeating every aspect of restaurant operations, from customer interactions to kitchen management.

Imagine pulling up to a drive-thru and placing your order with a voice AI system instead of a human attendant. That's just one example of the AI-powered innovations being tested by Yum Brands. Additionally, the company is developing a groundbreaking "SuperApp" for employees, allowing them to effortlessly access information on menu preparation, shift scheduling, and ingredient procurement, all with the assistance of AI technology.

Despite concerns about AI potentially replacing human jobs, Yum Brands reassures that its workforce will remain essential. Instead of displacing employees, AI is seen as an opportunity to enhance their skills and elevate their experiences on the job.

For customers, the integration of AI means a more personalized dining experience. By leveraging unified customer data, AI systems can tailor promotions and predict preferences, creating a seamless and enjoyable interaction with the brand.

While there are understandable concerns about the safety and reliability of AI in food preparation, Yum Brands is committed to ensuring that proper precautions are taken. By prioritizing customer safety and satisfaction, the company aims to harness the full potential of AI while mitigating any risks.

As the world continues to embrace digital technologies, Yum Brands remains at the forefront of innovation in the fast-food industry. By leveraging AI to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences, the company is setting a new standard for quick-service restaurants everywhere.


MakeMyTrip Launches Multilingual Generative AI Trip Assistant for Conversational Travel Planning

MakeMyTrip Launches Multilingual Generative AI Trip Assistant for Conversational Travel Planning

By Nishang Narayan

Published on August 9, 2025

MakeMyTrip has launched its multilingual Generative AI-powered Trip Planning Assistant, designed to transform how travellers plan and book their journeys by enabling real-time, conversational interactions.

Currently in beta, the assistant is built on an agentic AI framework and supports travel categories including flights, hotels, holidays, ground transport, visas, and foreign exchange. It allows users to engage in back-and-forth conversations through both voice and text, making the experience more natural and accessible.

Initially available in English and Hindi, the platform will expand to include more Indian languages after user feedback and further testing. The assistant is capable of handling both open-ended and specific queries, such as “Where can I go in August for a relaxing holiday with my children?” or “Mujhe Udaipur mein 3-star hotel 3500 ke budget mein chahiye”, providing results based on live availability, pricing, and preferences.

Unlike traditional travel tools that stop at suggestions, the MakeMyTrip assistant allows users to move from discovery to booking within the same conversation. The company aims to make travel planning more intuitive for non-English-speaking audiences and to improve accessibility in Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets.

Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip, said: “This assistant converts intent into action, particularly for users from the Bharat heartland who have been underserved by previous online travel interfaces.”

Group CTO Sanjay Mohan highlighted the platform’s technical sophistication, noting that it uses multi-agent architecture, custom language models, and verification protocols to provide accurate, real-time responses. The assistant builds on MakeMyTrip’s previous AI-led innovations, including Fare Lock, Zero Cancellation, voice-led support, and predictive rail booking tools.

Future updates will add image and video-based interactions as well as semantic search, enabling travellers to plan trips using visual and abstract inputs for more personalised recommendations.

The launch reinforces MakeMyTrip’s commitment to investing in AI infrastructure to create a highly responsive, multilingual platform capable of supporting complex travel decisions.


Meet Chai Magic: Your New Best Friend for Brewing Chai

Meet Chai Magic: Your New Best Friend for Brewing Chai

By Hariharan U

Published on July 31, 2025

Wonderchef has introduced something every chai lover will want in their kitchen "Chai Magic", the world’s first fully automatic tea maker built just for Indian-style tea. The launch, hosted in Kolkata, saw the presence of Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Mr. Ravi Saxena, co-founders of the brand, as they showcased what might just be the future of chai-making.

How It Works

 All it takes is loading your ingredients—tea, spices, water, and milk—into the machine, pressing a button, and letting Chai Magic handle the rest. Milk gets added at just the right moment, and the tea brews to perfection. Once it’s done, the machine switches off on its own. That’s right—no more burnt milk or tea spills.

"Chai Magic brings tradition and technology together. It makes everyday tea-making simple, stress-free, and delightful," said Chef Sanjeev Kapoor during the live demo.

He added, "You can add any masala—ginger, clove, pepper, saffron—and Chai Magic will brew it just the way you like it. It’s consistent, hands-free, and honestly, a joy to use."

Mr. Ravi Saxena, CEO of Wonderchef, called it a “magical appliance”, built for daily use in Indian homes. “It’s a product rooted in our tea culture but powered by modern convenience,” he said.

Coming Soon Near You

 Chai Magic will be available across retail stores and Wonderchef’s website in the coming weeks.

New Store Launch in Kolkata

 Wonderchef also marked the launch of its 31st exclusive store—and the first in East India—at City Centre Mall, Salt Lake, Kolkata. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor inaugurated the outlet, part of the brand’s plan to double its store count over the next two years.

 About Wonderchef
Founded in 2009, Wonderchef is known for its premium cookware and kitchen appliances. With over 600 products, it has built a strong presence both in India and globally—spanning 22,000+ retail outlets, 80,000+ women entrepreneurs, and availability in 25 countries.

This new launch adds one more feather to their innovation-first approach, making everyday cooking smarter, easier, and a little more magical.


Invisible Infrastructure: Reimagining Security in Hospitality Spaces

Invisible Infrastructure: Reimagining Security in Hospitality Spaces

By Author

Published on July 29, 2025

In luxury hospitality, the guest experience is meticulously crafted to feel effortless. Yet, behind the polished marble floors and ambient lighting lies an invisible yet vital layer — security. When done right, it’s not just a system; it’s an ecosystem of trust that operates quietly in the background, ensuring safety without ever disrupting elegance.

Today, hotel security has evolved beyond conventional surveillance. It’s not about how many cameras you install — it’s about where, why, and how they integrate into the environment. Smart surveillance strategies combine analytics with human insight, mapping guest behavior, anticipating pressure points, and aligning seamlessly with the tempo of operations. Think of it as an unseen concierge — alert, adaptive, and always one step ahead.

Access control, too, has become a sophisticated architecture of trust. Whether it’s guest keycards, staff movement, or vendor logistics, every access point is an opportunity to blend efficiency with discretion. The best frameworks balance hierarchy with hospitality — offering layered security that respects both guest privacy and staff autonomy.

But even the most intelligent infrastructure is only as strong as the people who operate it. Hotels that foster a proactive security culture — through training, simulations, and clearly defined accountability — gain an unmatched edge in both daily operations and crisis management. In such environments, security is not just protection; it’s empowerment.

Importantly, security should never be a generic overlay. It must reflect the soul of the brand. A wellness retreat in the hills may need subtle, almost invisible systems, while a corporate hotel in the heart of a city might benefit from visible, high-tech deterrents. Every hotel has a story and its security design should narrate it with purpose.

This is where independent expertise becomes invaluable. Too often, security is bundled into IT or MEP contracts as an afterthought. In reality, it deserves its own voice — one that understands physical risk, guest psychology, operational rhythms, and architectural intent. A seasoned security consultant can decode these variables and craft bespoke, scalable systems that serve both safety and sophistication.

Col Deepak Kajla, a techno-security expert with over 22 years of military and corporate experience, offers exactly this level of insight. His unique approach blends strategic thinking with hands-on implementation, helping hospitality brands design security that is intuitive, unobtrusive, and deeply effective. From five-star properties to eco-resorts, he brings clarity, control, and creativity to every project — transforming security from a backend function into a seamless extension of guest experience.

For hotels aiming to modernize their security approach without compromising on brand or ambiance, the path forward begins with a simple idea:

"Invisible infrastructure creates visible confidence"

CONTACT deepak.kajla@securesec.in 
https://www.securesec.in/

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