Artificial intelligence investment has become table stakes for restaurant operators and takes many forms, from voice AI to chatbots that provide predictive analytics and food safety alerts.

One notable trend is the creation of AI tools developed in response to increased demand for customization and personalization, both for operators and consumers (though one could argue that the need for customized options has increased because of the AI boom).

This month, multiple technology companies have introduced new AI features that lean into this demand, including OpenTable’s AI assistant to help diners make restaurant choices and SpotOn’s Picked for You tool that uses AI to suggest personalized menu items for customers.

For the back of house, Chatmeter launched a tool that helps companies understand how their brand performs compared with competitors, broken down by city, region or individual locations. While this tool isn’t the first of its kind, it indicates the industry’s need for tech tools that feel custom-built, as an alternative to the more complex investment in proprietary technology.

In other tech news this month, restaurant technology mergers and acquisitions have increased 45% in the first half of 2025, according to Pitchbook — highlighted by the $2 billion Olo acquisition.

Related:Tech Tracker: Are drone-serviced smart mailboxes the future of food delivery?

Tech Tracker rounds up what’s happening in the technology sector of the restaurant industry, including news from restaurants, vendors, digital platforms, and third-party delivery companies. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know and why:

SpotOn adds new Picked for You and GoTo Place tools

The point-of-sale company SpotOn has been busy in recent months. The technology vendor recently announced a customer-facing customization tool and a loyalty program solution for operators that don’t want to create their own apps.

Picked for You is an AI feature created in partnership with Amazon Web Services’ recommendation engine that automatically suggests personalized menu items to guests based on order history time of day/year, and other guest metrics. SpotOn said its customers are seeing a 6% lift in average check from using this feature.

GoTo Place is a compromise for restaurant operators that want to avoid designing their own app but also don’t want to just use an SMS-based loyalty program.

“Restaurants want their own branded app, but when you talk to consumers, they don’t want to have to have an app for their deli and bakery and whatever,” SpotOn chief product officer Bryan Solar said. “So, we built a piece of technology that allows independents to compete with chains with high-quality apps. You have to work pretty hard to see that it’s a SpotOn app and it’s not built as a marketplace either.”

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Solar said that from the consumer perspective, the app is “built like a transformer,” where you can find a completely different interface depending on which digital restaurant storefront you’re looking at. The app offers customizable options for restaurants with their own logos and marketing aesthetics, as well as the ability to toggle on and off features like digital ordering, a waitlist, and reservations, based on the brand’s needs.

OpenTable launches an AI Concierge

OpenTable is adding an AI executive assistant to its list of digital tools. This customer-facing tool called Concierge helps answer consumer questions about dietary restrictions, menu information and other questions customers might have about any of the 60,000 restaurants in the OpenTable database.

The purpose of the new app feature is designed to cut down on the need for external research and to keep users on the OpenTable app or website. The chatbot is part of this executive assistant-like trend in AI tools that help to customize consumer and operator journeys and home in on the personalized technology trend.

Related:4 emerging AI solutions spotted at the National Restaurant Association Show

Chatmeter lets operators compare with competitors

While competitive benchmarking is nothing new — Juicer, SevenRooms, and others offer similar features — they are becoming increasingly common.

Chatmeter’s newly announced Pulse AI: Competitive Intelligence feature lets operators drill down into comparisons with their competitors by region, city, and even individual location. The goal is to answer the question, “Why are people choosing Brand X over me?” with instant insights including pricing and value, marketing, and service and food quality based on reviews, reports, and mystery shopper analyses.

It’s one more way that tech vendors are trying to make the back of house experience feel as personalized as possible.

Tech M&A activity is hot again

You’re not imagining it: there are more food tech deals happening recently than before. According to Pitchbook data, mergers and acquisitions in the restaurant technology space rose 45% in the first half of the year, as compared with last year, though activity is more diminished as compared with the tech investment boom of 2021.

Some of the highlights of this year thus far include DoorDash’s triple acquisitions of Deliveroo, Sevenrooms, and Symbiosis; Par Technology’s purchase of Delaget; and most recently, the buzzworthy $2 billion sale of Olo to Thoma Bravo.

“Since the post-pandemic funding boom, exit activity has accelerated, driven by industry maturation and increased consolidation among restaurant marketplaces,” Pitchbook’s report reads. “Going forward, limited exit opportunities may drive further consolidation as startups seek liquidity through acquisition. With many of the current VC-backed delivery platforms based in international markets, major food delivery players may view declining valuations as an attractive opportunity for global expansion through strategic acquisition.”

Flytrex announces first third-party app integration

Drone delivery service Flytrex announced its partnership with DoorDash — marking the company’s first third-party delivery integration since launching.

DoorDash and Flytrex’s partnership’s first delivery zone will be the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, where eligible customers can select drone delivery at checkout, and drones will then deliver their orders directly to their homes.

“Drone delivery offers suburban families exactly what they’re looking for: speed, affordability, and convenience,” Yariv Bash, CEO and co-founder of Flytrex, said in a statement. “Your food arrives hot or cold as intended, and you get contactless delivery right to your backyard. For busy families juggling work and activities, it’s a game-changer that fits perfectly into your daily routine.”