# Facial Recognition Menu Boards KFC's Smart Restaurant Tech Suggests Food by Looking at Guests By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2016-12-29 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-restaurant References: [techcrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/23/baidu-and-kfcs-new-smart-restaurant-suggests-what-to-order-based-on-your-face/) & [kfc.cn](http://www.kfc.com.cn/) [KFC](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/touchless-menu-gesture-technology) is now working with the "[Google](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/papa-johns-food-ordering-agent) of China," Baidu, on its newest smart restaurant in Beijing. One of the most impressive new fixtures in the store is a smart menu board that's powered by facial recognition technology. When looking at the menu board, those who are visiting KFC will have suggestions made to them based on their age, gender and facial expression. Ultimately, consumers have the final say with what they want to order, but this smart menu system offers an efficient way to speed up the ordering process. Also at this smart restaurant in China, KFC offers a range of augmented reality games that can be accessed through table stickers. This past year, KFC introduced a number of wild and wacky products, including everything from fried chicken candles and lotion to flavored nail polish and promotional vinyl records. Novelty aside, an innovation like this smart menu board could revolutionize fast food ordering systems of the future. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.2/10 - Popularity: 43% | Activity: 76% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Facial Recognition Technology in Restaurants:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Implement facial recognition technology in restaurants to personalize menu suggestions based on customer demographics and preferences. - **Smart Menu Systems:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop smart menu systems powered by AI to streamline the ordering process and enhance customer experience. - **Integration of Augmented Reality in Dining:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate augmented reality technology into dining experiences to provide interactive and immersive engagement for customers. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Restaurant Technology:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Innovate and develop technologies that enhance the efficiency, personalization, and engagement in restaurant operations. - **AI and Facial Recognition:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the applications of artificial intelligence and facial recognition in various industries, including retail, hospitality, and security systems. - **Augmented Reality Gaming:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create new possibilities for augmented reality gaming in different industries such as entertainment, education, and marketing. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Powered Digital Menu Boards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-powered-digital-menu-boards.md) - [Gesture-Based QSR Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/touchless-menu-gesture-technology.md) - [Branded AI-Generated Short Films](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aigenerated-short-films.md) - [Regionally Inspired Menu Items](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/menu-in-china.md) - [AI-Generated Recipe Challenges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kfc-vs-ai.md) - [AI-Generated Art Challenges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kfc-x-fiiiiiingers.md) - [Illusory Fry Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fing-fing-cajun-chips.md) - [Efficient QSR Ordering Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fast-ordering-services.md) - [Mix-and-Match QSR Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/saucy-by-kfc.md)