Hospitality worker creates restaurant concept for Luminary by Rafi in North Sydney in 20 minutes using AI

It took one hospitality worker just 20 minutes to come up with a concept for a new restaurant using AI. Luminary by Rafi opens in North Sydney this weekend.

An AI-generated render of Luminary by RAFI: Applejack Hospitality will launch Australia’s First AI-generated restaurant this weekend. Picture: Supplied

It took one hospitality expert 20 minutes on ChatGPT to come up with a concept for a restaurant.

Now customers will get the chance to experience that concept when Australia’s first AI generated restaurant, Luminary, opens in Sydney this week.

Perth local Stefanie Wee, who works in hospitality, is the winner of Applejack Hospitality’s competition to submit a restaurant concept developed with AI.

Luminary will set up shot in the group’s Rafi restaurant in North Sydney this week.

Wee asked the AI to “come up with a restaurant and concept to open in Sydney Australia that is experiential, high end, contemporary and unique to the industry,” she said.

The restaurant will pop up at North Sydney’s RAFI.

After 20 minutes of back and forth, the concept of Luminary was born. The AI designed a restaurant that focuses on lighting, inspired by the art of illumination and the four elements of nature.

Applejack’s Culinary Director Patrick Friesen was then in charge of bringing the concept to life with the menu.

AI-generated renders of Luminary by RAFI.

Guests will be able to order from dishes inspired by water, fire, air and earth. Like Crystalline scallop with ponzu, sea grapes, caper leaves and seaweed to represent water or calamari, coral trout and grilled lamb cooked over charcoal, and served atop of smouldering coals, burning bay leaves and torched paperbark to represent fire.

Friesen said the competition was to challenge the notion that there was a formula to opening up a restaurant.

“I’ve been intrigued. So much of Sydney is so similar at the moment, lately it seems there is a formula to creating a restaurant so we thought we would put that to the test,” he says.

“AI is never going to take over. Going out to a restaurant is social interaction. That’s the function of restaurants, but it’s about challenging how can we use AI in starting a conversation about what hospitality is all about.”

Stephanie Wee won a competition to come up restaurant concept generated by AI. Source: Supplied

Wee said it was her knowledge of the industry, as well as the AI technology, that helped her decide on the concept.

“Working in hospitality, I knew what could be achieved and what ideas it came with that had been done before,” said Wee, adding she believes the technology will impact the industry in a positive way.

“All roads lead to here. Why be afraid of something naturally happening? It’s about not being afraid and use for your advantage. Robots not going to take over the world because we still need the human element. Especially hospitality. It’s tactile, it’s all about emotion.”

The pop-up will take over the full restaurant at RAFI, including outdoor terrace, cabanas, and arbour for lunch and dinner services from 29 July – 5 August 2023.