At The Watercooler

At the Watercooler with Gunpil Hwang

Gunpil Hwang believes robotics and automation can reshape the restaurant experience by making kitchens safer for employees, operations smoother for managers and food quality more consistent for guests

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October 28, 2025

Describe your current role.

At Aniai, we're rethinking what's possible in restaurant kitchens with robotics. As cofounder and CEO, I co-developed and designed our first product — Alpha Grill, a dual contact grill powered by robotics that cooks burgers automatically. Now, I split my time between our teams in the U.S. and Korea, leading operations, building strong teams in both regions, developing strategies, and driving execution. I am building Aniai such that our tech solves real problems in the restaurant industry, making life in the kitchen better for operators and staff by leveraging AI and robotics.

What inspired you to work in your industry?

I was born in a very rural region, where hamburgers were rare when I was young. My grandmother once tried to make a hamburger after seeing it in the newspaper. She had never tasted one herself, so she created it entirely from her imagination. It looked like a burger, but tasted very different and yet, I still miss my grandmother's "burger." Later, when I was in elementary school, I finally had the chance to eat a real hamburger. The taste was so amazing that I will never forget that moment. From then on, burgers became one of my favorite foods, and that experience eventually inspired and transpired into me creating a burger-cooking robot.

What industry trends do you think don't get enough attention and why?

I believe robotics doesn't get the attention it deserves in the restaurant industry. If you look at manufacturing or retail, industries with equally large markets, robots and automation have already transformed the workplace, making it safer and more efficient. In restaurants, we need to focus more on automating the difficult and sometimes dangerous grilling process. Robotics and AI can reinvent this process, improve productivity, ensure consistent food quality, and ultimately increase restaurant profitability.

If you weren't working in your current field, what would you be doing instead?

Maintaining consistent food quality is crucial. For anyone starting in the restaurant industry, I would strongly recommend focusing on how to maintain uniform quality - both in food and in service.

What do you do to have fun outside of work?

I enjoy trying local foods whenever I travel. I believe food reflects the life and culture of a place, so I love exploring unique dishes, especially localized versions of burgers.

Is there anything else you would like to tell people about yourself or your company/organization?

At Aniai, we believe robotics and automation can truly reshape the restaurant experience by making kitchens safer for employees, operations smoother for managers, and food quality more consistent for guests. That combination doesn't just improve the workday; it drives customer loyalty and long-term profitability. Our mission is to bring practical, AI-powered solutions to foodservice that operators can rely on to make their operations smarter and consistent, starting with the Alpha Grill. We're passionate about helping restaurants embrace innovation in a way that feels both accessible and impactful. And if you share that vision, I'd be delighted to connect, ideally over a great burger.