Dodo Pizza, a popular restaurant and delivery chain in Dubai, recently experimented with AI technology to create a unique pizza recipe that would represent the diverse cultural mix of the city. The AI-generated pizza featured a topping comprising Arab shawarma chicken, Indian grilled paneer cheese, Middle Eastern Za’atar herbs, and tahini sauce. Despite initial skepticism from the chef, Spartak Arutyunyan, the pizza turned out to be a huge hit with customers.
However, not all AI-created recipes made it to the menu. For example, the combination of strawberries and pasta, as well as blueberries and breakfast cereal, did not make the cut. This highlights the importance of human validation in the culinary world, as Venecia Willis, culinary director at Velvet Taco in the US, also experienced when experimenting with AI-generated taco recipes.
While some in the food industry remain skeptical of AI’s capabilities, others see it as a valuable tool for sparking creativity and identifying food trends. UK supermarket chain Waitrose, for example, uses AI to spot rising food trends on social media and adjust their product offerings accordingly.
In Singapore, Italian expat Stefano Cantù has even created an AI-powered app called “ChefGPT” that suggests recipes based on the ingredients users have in their kitchen. Despite the initial success of the app, Mr. Cantù faced challenges with the cost of using AI technology.
Overall, while AI can be a fun and innovative tool for creating new recipes, it is clear that human expertise and validation are still essential in the culinary world. Dodo Pizza is now allowing customers to use AI to create their own unique pizza toppings, showing that the technology can be a fun addition to the dining experience.
