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Listen "Danny Klein on Why Truth Matters More Than Ever in the Age of AI"
Episode Synopsis
In this episode of the Restaurant AI podcast, Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, sits down with Danny Klein, Editorial Director of QSR Magazine, for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolving role of journalism in the restaurant industry, the rise of AI-powered tools, and the importance of trust in a saturated media landscape.
Danny shares his unexpected journey from sports writing to restaurant trade journalism, how QSR Magazine builds and protects editorial trust, and what it means to serve a B2B audience that values data over dining reviews. The two dive into the challenges and opportunities of AI in journalism, including QSR's new AI-powered internal search tool and the shifting role of editors in the "truth-telling economy"—where brand trust and personal voice matter more than ever.
They also explore the tension between technology and hospitality in restaurants, what defines a winning brand in today’s landscape of falling traffic and digital overload, and why experience still drives loyalty in a post-COVID, omnichannel restaurant world. From Texas Roadhouse's smart tech moves to the dangers of overbuilding, this episode delivers real insights for operators, marketers, and media professionals alike.
Links:
QSR Magazine: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/
Connect with Danny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyklein14/
Listen to QSR Uncut: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/podcast/
ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com/
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler/
00:00 Intro
02:14 Danny's introduction to restaurant journalism
08:20 "We're not food writers"
12:15 The business behind food
16:40 What is AI doing to journalism?
21:00 Community building and the future of the Editor role
23:54 The future of brands and publishing companies
27:00 LinkedIn's algorithm
31:55 The future of human influence on AI
35:26 The truth-telling economy
42:58 The future of writing
50:14 Which facts are true?
58:57 Technology and hospitality in restaurants
1:05:55 Experiential restaurants vs technology
1:11:39 Restaurants buying too much technology or the wrong technology?
1:15:15 Where AI is headed in the restaurant industry
1:18:26 Loyalty programs
1:20:30 The importance of technology vendors
1:23:52 Drone delivery
1:24:10 Smartest source of truth on the restaurant industry
1:25:00 Robotic kitchens or humans running automation
1:25:30 The best restaurant CEO
1:28:00 The most interesting topic to Danny
1:31:00 Intro
Danny shares his unexpected journey from sports writing to restaurant trade journalism, how QSR Magazine builds and protects editorial trust, and what it means to serve a B2B audience that values data over dining reviews. The two dive into the challenges and opportunities of AI in journalism, including QSR's new AI-powered internal search tool and the shifting role of editors in the "truth-telling economy"—where brand trust and personal voice matter more than ever.
They also explore the tension between technology and hospitality in restaurants, what defines a winning brand in today’s landscape of falling traffic and digital overload, and why experience still drives loyalty in a post-COVID, omnichannel restaurant world. From Texas Roadhouse's smart tech moves to the dangers of overbuilding, this episode delivers real insights for operators, marketers, and media professionals alike.
Links:
QSR Magazine: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/
Connect with Danny: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyklein14/
Listen to QSR Uncut: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/podcast/
ClearCOGS: https://www.clearcogs.com/
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler/
00:00 Intro
02:14 Danny's introduction to restaurant journalism
08:20 "We're not food writers"
12:15 The business behind food
16:40 What is AI doing to journalism?
21:00 Community building and the future of the Editor role
23:54 The future of brands and publishing companies
27:00 LinkedIn's algorithm
31:55 The future of human influence on AI
35:26 The truth-telling economy
42:58 The future of writing
50:14 Which facts are true?
58:57 Technology and hospitality in restaurants
1:05:55 Experiential restaurants vs technology
1:11:39 Restaurants buying too much technology or the wrong technology?
1:15:15 Where AI is headed in the restaurant industry
1:18:26 Loyalty programs
1:20:30 The importance of technology vendors
1:23:52 Drone delivery
1:24:10 Smartest source of truth on the restaurant industry
1:25:00 Robotic kitchens or humans running automation
1:25:30 The best restaurant CEO
1:28:00 The most interesting topic to Danny
1:31:00 Intro
In God we trust