When AI Takes the Reins, Hospitality Gets to Shine

By Maria Zhang, CEO of Palona.ai

Microsoft’s Our Year with Copilot report reveals how AI is transforming our work landscape. Entry-level professionals now save between 11 and 37 minutes daily using Copilot. Engineers are allowing AI to generate up to 30% of their code. Recent layoffs at Microsoft, Meta, and other tech giants demonstrate just how rapidly this transformation is occurring.

What Does AI Mean for Job Functions as We Know Them?

The report examined early Copilot users across job functions and found striking differences in time savings:

• Cybersecurity, product development, Data Science and sales saw the largest daily time savings
• Legal, procurement, and supply chain saw minimal impact
• Once users saved at least 11 minutes per day consistently, AI adoption became embedded in their workflows

In short: roles that are data-heavy or repetitive are being transformed first. Jobs requiring judgment, creativity, or human interaction still have a longer runway.

What Does This Mean for Restaurants?

AI may be transforming tech jobs, but in restaurant industry, it’s doing something different: it’s unlocking new possibilities for hospitality. Restaurant teams are often stretched thin, juggling phone calls, online orders, and in-person service all at once. AI can step in to ease the load, allowing staff to focus more on what matters most: the guest experience.

Palona’s voice and text AI agents can take care of the repetitive tasks for restaurants, like:

• Taking orders
• Booking reservations
• Answer common questions

Meanwhile, your team can focus on what only humans can do best:

• Personally check-in on each guests to make each guests feel welcome
• Moving guests through the dining experience without waiting or interruptions
• Keeping the restaurant clean and organized at ease
• Keep hospitality at the heart of the business

AI doesn’t replace hospitality: by handling the repetitive tasks, AI protects and enhances customer experiences.

Why I’m Excited About This Future

We’re already seeing the shift in workplace brought by AI:

• In tech, AI is changing how engineers, marketers, and support teams work
• In restaurants, AI is allowing operators to reconnect with guests.

The real power of AI isn’t in reducing headcount. It’s in reclaiming time for the moments that matter most. At Palona, our mission is to bring digital hospitality to life, around the clock, across channels, and always on-brand.

When machines handle the mundane, humans get to do what we do best: create, connect, and care.

Maria

CEO, Palona.ai