Harnessing AI to Keep Restaurants Visible and Vibrant: An Interview with Matthieu Rouif, CEO of Photoroom

As the restaurant industry faces one of its most challenging periods in recent memory, technology is fast becoming an unexpected lifeline. With closures at record levels and competition from delivery platforms and global chains intensifying, visibility has never been more critical for independent operators. Enter AI — a tool once reserved for tech giants, now reshaping how even the smallest neighbourhood restaurant can be discovered, chosen and remembered. From sharpening online imagery to automating SEO tasks, artificial intelligence is helping business owners reclaim valuable time and creativity while strengthening their digital footprint. To explore how restaurants can use AI to stay relevant — and even thrive — in this fast-changing landscape, Restaurant Industry News spoke with Matthieu Rouif, CEO and co-founder of Photoroom, a platform empowering millions of small businesses to create professional-quality visuals in seconds. In this conversation, Rouif shares why “search is the new battleground” for restaurants, how AI can make digital marketing more human, and what hospitality founders can do now to prepare for a future shaped by smart technology. The restaurant sector is seeing closures at record levels. Why do you believe AI-powered marketing and SEO are becoming critical survival tools for hospitality businesses right now? [...]