AI, NPD and other TLAs

What is AI and what has it got to do with my sliced pan?!

A lot of people misunderstand or don’t really know what is meant by the term AI / Artificial Intelligence. Some food producers think that AI isn't for them, it sounds very technical, especially for smaller sized food businesses. And consumers might think that it changes how their foods are made. But if it can help food producers develop new foods more quickly and efficiently, support food safety and so reduce the risk of a contamination or new product launch failure (as so many do), then it's definitely worth getting on board with it!

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in food production for streamlining processes and increasing efficiency, both of these can increase production to meet market demands and reduce waste, all good objectives! For example, if a food producer is analysing a lot of data or numbers or information, this can be slow and tedious. If you apply an AI system to data analysis instead, then you can get results more quickly and accurately. AI could also help you to assess risks and mitigate them by detecting anomalies early on, and allowing you to take action sooner rather than later.

Supply Chain management is always complicated and challenging. If food producers can integrate Artificial Intelligence in supply chains within different segments including transportation and logistics, production planning, quality control, etc., then it can result in very positive transformations. AI is being used in food production more and more to give consumers, better, more appropriate, timely, fresher and in-season foods every day in the shops.

Perhaps more accessible for small producers and consumers or indeed anyone who isn’t quite sure yet how AI might be useful, is Chat GPT, which many people will have heard of. Chat GPT is a form of “Generative AI” that focuses on creating content such as text, images, code, and videos. It does this through machine learning algorithms. What does that mean? Well, the more information you put in, the more the system can use that new information to supplement what is already there, and give a better, more rounded result.

For example, if you want to write a paragraph about how AI can be used in a bakery that makes fresh nutritious bread every day, then this is what you’ll get:

In a bustling bakery known for its fresh, nutritious bread, AI plays a transformative role in enhancing both efficiency and quality. Advanced AI algorithms analyze customer preferences and seasonal ingredient availability to suggest new, health-conscious recipes, ensuring a diverse and appealing menu. AI-powered ovens and mixers precisely control temperature and timing, guaranteeing each loaf's perfect bake, while machine learning models optimize inventory management, reducing waste and ensuring that ingredients are always fresh. Furthermore, an AI-driven customer relationship system personalizes the shopping experience by recommending products based on individual health goals and past purchases, creating a seamless and satisfying experience for health-conscious patrons.

You can use as much or as little of this as you would like to then and edit it to suit your own tone. If I asked it to do the same thing, but gave it more detail, then what it produces will be more detailed and specific too. You can use it to draw or provide images too. For example: if you input “Draw me a baker holding a loaf of bread on a sunny day” you’ll get this:

It’s like the old adage – rubbish in, rubbish out. The AI is only as good as the information that feeds into it. In summary, AI can do many tasks that humans do, but more efficiently and more quickly. It’s not there to replace humans, but to support us. And anything that makes our food businesses better, makes our jobs easier, and improves things for our customers must be a good thing!

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