You’re scrolling through your favorite food app, eyeing a perfectly crispy pizza, oozing cheese, with steam rising like it was just pulled from the oven. You’re ready to order, but when it arrives—something’s off. It’s not as mouthwatering as that picture. Well, guess what? It might’ve been a bit too perfect because that were AI-generated food images.
Zomato, one of India’s most popular food delivery platforms, is stepping in to make sure what you see is what you actually get. They’ve just announced a bold ban on AI-generated food images in menus, the first of its kind in the industry. Why? They want to preserve the authenticity of the dining experience.
What’s Happening?
As of September 16th, Zomato’s new rule kicked in, meaning any restaurant still using AI-generated food images could be removed from the platform. It’s not that widespread yet—only about 10% of Zomato’s 276,000 restaurant partners use AI in some way, and just 2% rely on it for their entire menu. But Zomato saw where things were headed and decided to act fast.
“We’re nipping the problem in the bud!”
says Rakesh Ranjan, CEO of Zomato’s food ordering and delivery division.
Even though the issue isn’t massive yet, they’re taking no chances. They’ve even developed AI tools that can detect AI-generated food images with 90% accuracy. Pretty slick, right?
Help for Restaurants
Now, you might be wondering—how are restaurants taking this? Well, Zomato isn’t just slamming the brakes and walking away. They’re offering discounted photoshoots through their partners, making it easier for restaurants to get those mouthwatering, authentic food photos. For just Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000, restaurants can get professional shots done for part of their menu. And considering some smaller eateries usually shell out Rs 7,000 to Rs 15,000 for similar services, that’s a pretty sweet deal.
The Bigger Picture
But here’s the twist: Zomato’s biggest competitor, Swiggy, is playing a whole different game. They’re not banning AI images; instead, they’re embracing the tech and even offering AI-powered photoshoots with Spyne.ai. On top of that, Swiggy has an accelerator program that rewards restaurants for hitting image quality goals.
So, while Zomato is all about keeping things real, Swiggy is leaning into AI’s potential. It’s a classic case of two giants taking opposite paths, but both trying to make the dining experience better in their own way.
What This Means for Your Business
If you’re a restaurant or food business owner, this is something worth thinking about. Whether it’s Swiggy’s AI assistance or Zomato’s authentic photo push, both trends signal one thing: visuals are key in the online food world. The food might be delicious, but the photo is what gets the customer to click “Order Now.”
With platforms like Billberry POS by your side, managing your restaurant’s operations becomes a breeze, but keeping up with industry trends like this will help you stand out in an ever-evolving market. Plus, when you’re juggling the back-end with a solid POS, you have more time to focus on making sure those food photos match the deliciousness that’s served.
Information taken from Business Standard.
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