In this session of Rising Tides Live, hosted by Matt Wampler, CEO & Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, filling in for Shawn Walchef, the conversation centered on how restaurants can harness AI as a form of “learned intelligence.” Matt opened with his own story of struggling through the early days of restaurant ownership, sleeping in the back of his Jimmy John’s, and realizing the value of having a true “finger on the pulse” of operations. That experience led to ClearCOGS, built to help operators forecast and act proactively instead of constantly reacting. Joined by leaders across training, finance, and operations, the discussion explored how AI can take the overwhelming breadth of restaurant knowledge—compliance, scheduling, prep, service—and turn it into actionable, time-saving support. The key takeaway was clear: AI isn’t about replacing people, it’s about freeing them to focus on hospitality, culture, and growth.
Interview Takeaways:
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