- Peter Moore, CEO, Lolly
AI is no longer something universities are planning for. It is already influencing how students learn, communicate and increasingly, how they interact with campus services. And catering is no exception.
Today's students expect digital experiences that are intuitive, personalised and immediate. Whether ordering food, managing dietary requirements or paying through an app, they increasingly expect technology to recognise them, understand their preferences and remove unnecessary friction from everyday interactions.
AI makes all of this possible. From automatically applying allergen information and dietary preferences to creating more personalised ordering journeys, AI has the potential to make campus catering more convenient, responsive and safer than it ever has been. As large language models and intelligent automation continue to evolve, the opportunity to create genuinely personalised experiences is on the increase.
Moving faster isn't the same as moving better
The more personalised technology becomes, the more important trust becomes alongside it. Students need confidence that their personal information is being used responsibly, transparently and securely. They want convenience, but they also want control. Personalisation should feel helpful and not intrusive in any way. When it does, the trust has gone.
This becomes even more relevant as universities explore richer digital experiences. Parent-linked payments, nutrition insights, spending analysis and personalised recommendations can all add value, but they also raise important questions around consent, privacy and ownership of data.
The importance of AI governance
Technology should empower but not overcome students. That is why AI governance is becoming just as important as AI capability. As organisations adopt technologies such as generative AI, the focus must remain on ensuring people stay in control. Human oversight, clear governance and visible security measures should be built into every deployment.
At Lolly, this thinking sits behind our AI framework, LollySense. Every AI capability we develop is designed to solve genuine operational challenges while remaining transparent, ethical and secure. We are proud to be the first UK hospitality technology company to achieve ISO 42001 certification, demonstrating our commitment to responsible AI management.
Strengthening the student experience
Ultimately, technology should strengthen the student experience, not replace the human interactions that make campus life unique.
The institutions that will benefit most from AI won't necessarily be those adopting the most technology. It will be the ones that are using it thoughtfully - balancing innovation with trust, personalisation with privacy and automation with genuine human connection.
If we get that balance right, AI won't simply improve campus catering. It will help strengthen the relationship between universities and their student contingent.
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