The Rise of AI in the Food Industry: From Blueberry and Breakfast Cereal Pizza to Crookies
In a world where technology is constantly evolving, the food industry is not immune to the influence of artificial intelligence (AI). From creating unique and innovative recipes to spotting food trends, AI is making its mark in the culinary world.
One such example comes from Dodo Pizza in Dubai, where the head of menu development, Spartak Arutyunyan, turned to AI to create a pizza that represented the diverse cultural mix of the city. The result was a topping comprising Arab shawarma chicken, Indian grilled paneer cheese, Middle Eastern Za’atar herbs, and tahini sauce. Despite initial skepticism, the pizza became a huge hit with customers.
Similarly, in the US, Venecia Willis of Velvet Taco used AI to devise a taco featuring prawns and steak, which sold an impressive 22,000 units in a week. While some AI-generated recipes may seem unconventional, they have proven to be successful in capturing the interest of consumers.
However, not everyone in the food industry is on board with AI. London-based cocktail creator Julian de Feral avoids AI, citing its lack of common sense in recipe creation. Linguistics professor Emily Bender also warns that AI chatbots are not infallible, as they rely on information gathered from the internet.
Despite the skepticism, UK supermarket chain Waitrose is using AI to identify rising food trends on social media, such as “smash burgers” and “crookies.” Meanwhile, in Singapore, Italian expat Stefano Cantù has developed an AI-powered app called “ChefGPT” that suggests recipes based on the ingredients available in a user’s kitchen.
While AI continues to make waves in the food industry, experts emphasize the importance of maintaining a human element in recipe creation. As Spartak Arutyunyan puts it, AI should be seen as a fun tool rather than the sole basis for a menu. Whether it’s creating unique pizzas or spotting food trends, AI is reshaping the way we think about food and innovation in the culinary world.
