If you don’t think #robots play a significant role in how your dinner is prepared, you probably haven’t eaten out in quite some time. Commercial #kitchens have relied on automation since the earlier parts of the 21st Century. And in recent years, the technology has increasingly worked its way into smaller scale operations—even, perhaps, your favorite neighborhood #eatery. We’ve seen machines evolve to perform all sorts of tasks in the back-of-house, from flipping burgers to crafting cocktails. Now, Next Robot has unveiled an #AI-powered #cooking machine it believes has perfected the fine art of #pasta preparation. The latest model from the three-year-old startup – fittingly called Al Dente – promises precision auto-seasoning and ingredient-loading automation. It uses a proprietary platform to monitor texture, moisture and consistency utilizing visual cues. It promises to transform any restaurant kitchen into a Michelin-caliber Italian trattoria. And it’ll do so for the tidy sum of $...