Outback Steakhouse Pilots Machine Learning Tech PYMNTS.com

At multiple restaurants operated by one of its franchisees, Outback Steakhouse is testing machine learning (ML) technology from Presto. The test is focused on the restaurant lobby, but could grow to the kitchen, curbside pickup and dining room areas, CNBC reported. Presto Founder and CEO Rajat Suri said the technology assists restaurants in fixing blind spots, noting that "managers can't be everywhere at all times." Cameras capture and analyze the actions of waiters, hosts and customers to bolster diner satisfaction. The technology can track cleanliness (or lack thereof) of lobbies, extended wait times and the number of diners who leave without being acknowledged or shown to a table.