A new restaurant in Dubai is preparing to revolutionize the culinary scene with the help of artificial intelligence. Set to open in September near the iconic Burj Khalifa, WOOHOO brands itself as “dining in the future,” where the menu, ambience, and service are crafted by an AI-powered chef named Chef Aiman. While human chefs will handle the actual food preparation, the AI system will drive creative direction based on global food science and culinary traditions.
Chef Aiman—an AI large-language model whose name combines “AI” and “man”—has been trained on decades of food research, molecular flavor profiles, and over a thousand international recipes. It generates unique ingredient and flavor combinations by breaking cuisine down into sensory elements like umami, acidity, and texture. These concepts are then refined by human chefs, led by acclaimed Dubai-based chef Reif Othman, whose tasting feedback helps fine-tune the AI’s culinary creativity.
According to WOOHOO co-founder and Gastronaut CEO Ahmet Oytun Cakir, the aim is not to replace chefs but to enhance their innovation and sustainability practices. Chef Aiman is also designed to reduce kitchen waste by reusing commonly discarded ingredients such as fat and meat trimmings. In the future, the team envisions licensing Aiman to restaurants worldwide to promote eco-conscious dining and elevate global culinary standards.
