What AI? Chili's spends big on WiFi and tablets instead of tokens

Chili's has focused more on upgrading handheld ordering systems and software than AI, Brinker International CIO Chris Caldwell told Business Insider. Bloomberg/Getty Images Brinker International-owned Chili's has turned around its sales over the last few years. It's invested in basic tech instead of AI, Brinker's chief information officer said. The chain has focused on new ordering tablets and WiFi systems, Chris Caldwell said. Chris Caldwell is more focused on tablets these days than AI tokens . The chief information officer of Chili's parent company, Brinker International, has spent his 2½ years in the role figuring out how to overhaul WiFi systems at restaurants and replace thousands of handheld devices that waitstaff use to take customers' orders, he told Business Insider. Many restaurants are adding AI to their operations. At Starbucks and Burger King , for instance, AI agents are listening to drive-thru orders and fetching recipes for baristas.