Technology

Slice Factory to use custom AI robot

Provided

June 29, 2022

Chicago-based Slice Factory has teamed up with Nala Robotics, an AI tech company, to supply the company with a custom designed and installed an autonomous chef called Pizzaiola, according to a press release.

The AI robot chef will be able to cook Slice Factory's jumbo 28-inch slice and its various Chicago-style stuffed pizzas, as well as the chain's pasta dishes and chicken wings.

"Our partnership with Slice Factory, the first of many in the pipeline, represents another important milestone for Nala Robotics and the adoption of our restaurant-as-a-service platform," Ajay Sunkara, Nala Robotics cofounder and CEO, said in the release. "Our custom solution will help Slice Factory expand production to meet rising demand for the jumbo slice craze it created in the Chicagoland area, plus offer a wide variety of food options to keep customers happy, while also saving on labor costs."

To ensure efficiencies, the robotic operating system monitors more than 1,200 parameters every microsecond, ranging from robot field of vision and food quality to point-of-sales. Once a pizza order is placed, Pizzaiola will subsequently select, press and stretch the dough, add the sauce, cheese and toppings, and then cook, slice and box the pizza based on customer preference. Pizzaiola also will be able to fulfil online orders and individual jumbo slices that can be scheduled for pickup at the chain's drive-thru within a few minutes of ordering.

"We're known for our jumbo pizzas and jumbo slices, and this partnership with Nala Robotics will help us improve production exponentially as we expand locations and service areas," Dom DiDiana, Slice Factory founder and president, said in the release. "What's really exciting is that we now have the capability to run fully autonomous pizzeria-style restaurants with lots of menu items, while keeping our family recipes consistent with the same great taste and exceptional food quality our customers have loved for many years."

Slice Factory operates 12 locations in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.