Aaron Friedman had a career trajectory that transitioned from the restaurant industry in the ‘80s and ‘90s, where he primarily worked on the line in upscale dining establishments. Despite describing his time in restaurants as a “failure” during a February video conference meeting, he decided to pivot and shift his focus within the food industry. This led him to Jack in the Box, where he moved from wearing chef’s whites to taking on roles involving kitchen design and managing a large fast-food business. His responsibilities extended to learning about drive-through technologies, which became a significant aspect of his expertise. Subsequently, Friedman moved on to a company specializing in electronics for drive-through locations, with a key focus on leveraging technology to enhance convenience for both employees and customers.
Reflecting on his transition, Friedman remarked on the challenges of leaving the dynamic kitchen environment as a chef but acknowledged the unique path he undertook, leading him to a completely different professional realm.
However, the most impactful twist in Friedman’s career came with his unexpected ALS diagnosis, disrupting his successful trajectory managing his property. The sudden onset of the disease caught him and his family off guard, highlighting the lack of a specific test for ALS due to its symptom overlap with other conditions. Despite the swift diagnosis he received, the journey with ALS prompted Friedman to prioritize his health, necessitating his departure from work in 2022. ALS diagnosis typically involves a time-consuming process of elimination, underscoring the complexities faced by both patients and medical professionals. Despite his health constraints, Friedman aimed to stay engaged creatively and contribute to the food industry.
This aspiration led him to Hi Auto, a company dedicated to revolutionizing the drive-thru experience through cutting-edge conversational AI technologies. By leveraging natural language processing and speech recognition expertise, Hi Auto aims to streamline communication in noisy drive-thru settings, enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Friedman resonated with the company’s compassionate approach towards his battle with ALS and their commitment to impactful innovation.
Friedman highlighted the significance of Hi Auto’s technology in enhancing communication, particularly with recent additions like Spanish language support, catering to diverse linguistic needs and speech variations. The ultimate goal of Hi Auto is to ensure accessibility and convenience for all users, reducing stress and improving the drive-thru experience comprehensively.
Despite his reduced involvement due to health reasons, Friedman shared positive feedback from interactions with stakeholders. Fast-food employees, especially Spanish speakers, lauded Hi Auto’s technology for facilitating order-taking and enhancing customer interactions. Customers also appreciated the seamless communication enabled by Hi Auto, transcending language barriers effectively.
Looking ahead, Friedman envisions Hi Auto’s systems catalyzing efficiency and inclusivity in the restaurant landscape. He anticipates technology playing a pivotal role in transforming restaurant accessibility and operational dynamics, particularly in alleviating the high-stress environments prevalent in the industry. Friedman foresees a shift towards increased automation and streamlined person-to-machine interactions, underscoring the pivotal role of technology in reshaping communication paradigms in various industries, including the restaurant sector. In his view, the future entails a transition towards enhanced machine-to-person and person-to-machine interactions, especially crucial in the context of order-taking processes, particularly in drive-thru settings, to foster industry growth and evolution.
