NEC Corp. and Kimuraya Sohonten Ltd. said on Jan. 17 that they used artificial intelligence to develop “Ren-AI” steamed bread--its name a play on the words: “renai” (romance) and AI.

Simple offerings of plain toast or steamed white bread with butter and kaya (coconut jam), half-boiled eggs or packs of nasi lemak are appealing enough for locals and curious tourists to queue up ...