Frying and grilling
Chef / Cook · Fast-food / Central Kitchen Cook
“Frying and grilling” (Chef / Cook) is being replaced by AI: it entered in 2018 and is projected to be largely replaced by 2028.
What this task is
Fast-food cooks run fryers and grills, managing oil temperature and timing for fries and chicken and cooking burger patties, often juggling several batches at once during rushes.
How AI replaces it
Automated fryers lower and lift baskets on a timer, robotic-arm versions handle continuous orders, and clamshell grills follow programmed temperatures and times. Chains have adopted them since 2018, and most frying and grilling is expected to need no hands-on cooking around 2028.
What stays human
Staff load ingredients, clean fryers and grills, check that output meets the chain's standards, and deal with equipment breakdowns and customized orders that fall outside the programmed routines.