After Backlash, Portland-Area Outback Steakhouse Cancels New Artificial Intelligence Surveillance Test [Updated] | Eater Portland

"I read that an Outback Steakhouse in the Portland area planned to pilot Presto Vision, a surveillance system that uses cameras and machine learning to evaluate customer–employee interactions, track how quickly food arrives, monitor how often servers check on diners, alert managers to long wait times and even notify servers when a water glass needs a refill; Presto Vision’s CEO Rajat Suri said the system would “bring about a tectonic shift in the restaurant industry.” The franchisee, Evergreen Restaurant Group, initially said recorded video would be deleted within days, no diners’ personal information would be collected, and the tech would be limited to the lobby, but Wired’s Louise Matsakis warned such a program could increase employee stress and risk misuse of diner data, and heavy backlash on Facebook and Twitter followed — Bloomin’ Brands ultimately canceled the test, with Elizabeth Watts saying they agreed hospitality is best achieved by serving customers’ needs in the moment." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden