Plato Partners with NEAR Blockchain for Better AI in Crypto Restaurant App
AI Infrastructure for the Win
With NEAR's advanced technology, Plato’s app now features user-owned AI, giving users greater control over their data and AI interactions. The NEAR Foundation provides the essential infrastructure for this integration, including secure data collection, curation, and rewarding users for their contributions. This setup ensures that users can enjoy a seamless and secure experience while interacting with the AI.
The NEAR Blockchain enhances privacy and security, aligning with the ethos of decentralization. Users can contribute data, verified by purchase receipts, to create a robust and reliable dataset. This data helps the AI provide personalized restaurant recommendations and other services, making dining out more enjoyable and efficient.
Expert Insights
Robert Kao, co-founder of Plato, highlighted the benefits of this partnership: “Integrating with NEAR helps us enhance user experiences by allowing them to earn rewards for verified content. Our community of food enthusiasts can now contribute valuable data while maintaining control over their information. This partnership aligns perfectly with NEAR’s vision for a Web3-enabled AI ecosystem.”
Jarrod Barnes, Head of Founder Success at NEAR Foundation, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “We are thrilled to support Plato in creating new dining experiences. This partnership showcases how NEAR’s technology can be used in practical, everyday applications. The integration of NEAR’s infrastructure into Plato’s app demonstrates the transformative potential of decentralized technology in enhancing user engagement.”
Impact on User Experience
The integration with NEAR Blockchain is set to significantly improve the user experience on Plato’s app. Users will receive personalized restaurant recommendations through the AskPlato interface, which is trained on verified user-generated content. This ensures that the recommendations are accurate and tailored to individual preferences.
Additionally, Plato plans to introduce automated reservation capabilities, further streamlining the dining experience. Users will soon be able to make reservations directly through the app, saving time and effort. The multi-chain integration will also allow users to swap USDC and access other approved Web3 tokens like SWEAT and NEAR for in-app purchases, expanding the app’s utility and convenience.
Plato's platform supports over 15 million restaurants globally, with users checking in at more than 10,000 restaurants across 94 countries. The app’s user base has grown to over 25,000 monthly users, with a remarkable month-over-month user growth of 179%. These statistics highlight the increasing popularity and engagement among users, further boosted by the new integration with NEAR.
