Restaurants aren't buying the AI hype

Michele's take

The preference to build over buy is a telling signal — operators are done paying vendor premiums for AI features they can't customize, can't measure, and can't integrate cleanly into their existing stack. This isn't anti-innovation; it's discipline, and frankly it's the right instinct when half the "AI solutions" on the show floor are repackaged automation with a new label. Franchise networks in particular should treat this as a forcing function: any technology mandate pushed down to franchisees must now come with a clear ROI case and operational proof, or it will face resistance at the unit level that no corporate rollout plan can override.