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| AI Smootie by Open AI |
BetterBlends is the first 100% AI-powered food and beverage concept in the US
Original article: Review: San Francisco's AI smoothie bar is cooking up a storm by Martha Brennan (Irish Star) September 24, 2023
Summary: The tech-savvy city is now home to the first fully AI-powered food and beverage concept in the US. BetterBlends is a smoothie bar offering a personalized experience through AI, allowing customers to create their custom smoothie recipes by swapping ingredients or using AI-generated suggestions based on past orders. While the concept has been a hit with local residents and office workers, the founders plan to close the cafe soon to license their AI technology to mainstream restaurants, aiming to enhance menu customization and improve the overall dining experience. This move reflects the growing influence of AI in various aspects of life, including the culinary world.
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The café's founders, **Michael Parlato and Clayton Reynolds**, formerly of a California food hall startup, are bringing their food technology expertise to tackle what they call the "boba tea problem." In today's cafes, the overwhelming number of choices can make ordering a daunting task. BetterBlends simplifies the process, allowing customers to describe their cravings, and the AI does the rest.
However, this innovation isn't without its challenges. BetterBlends operates without a traditional menu; instead, customers order through an online-only system. While tech-savvy patrons may find this convenient, it can be a hurdle for others. Nevertheless, the founders aim to provide a wide array of options, from sweetness levels to dietary preferences, including vegan, paleo, keto, low-fat, and low FODMAP choices. Customers in a rush can select from pre-made orders or explore suggested blends based on various occasions.
Notably, the technology continuously tracks ingredient quantities to avoid offering unavailable items, minimizing waste. Once a customer submits their order, the real blending takes place behind the scenes. Impressively, the AI can also recommend ingredients that need to be used before they expire.
The AI-powered customization can be both a delight and a challenge. Customers can remix their orders repeatedly, but too many options can become overwhelming. Yet, as one customer discovered, sometimes the AI's suggestions can surprise and please the palate.
Despite its popularity among locals and office workers, BetterBlends has a limited lifespan as a smoothie bar. The founders intend to close the café within a month to explore licensing their technology to mainstream restaurants. Smoothies served as a quick and versatile testing ground for their AI-based system. Now, they aspire to assist other eateries, like Sweetgreen, in creating innovative menu items and enhancing customer experiences.
As the Bay Area continues to embrace automation in various aspects of life, from self-driving cars to wearables, AI's presence in the culinary world is growing. Although BetterBlends' smoothie-making days are numbered, the founders' vision of enhancing the food industry through AI remains a promising venture.
Commentary and reactions: The emergence of BetterBlends as the first 100% AI-powered food and beverage concept in the US is a fascinating development that showcases how AI is revolutionizing the culinary experience. The idea of creating personalized smoothie recipes with the help of AI is innovative and caters to the modern desire for customization and convenience. It's impressive to see how the founders, with a background in food technology, have used AI to address the issue of overwhelming choices in cafes, making it easier for customers to get what they're craving. The ability to cater to various dietary preferences and track ingredient levels to prevent waste is a smart application of technology in the food industry.
The decision to close the cafe and license their AI technology to mainstream restaurants is a strategic move. It not only demonstrates the scalability and adaptability of AI in the food industry but also hints at a broader trend of AI integration in restaurants. As AI continues to permeate every aspect of our lives, including our food choices, this could mark the beginning of a new era in culinary experiences. It will be interesting to see how other restaurants and food establishments adopt AI to enhance their menus and cater to individual tastes. Ultimately, this shift toward AI-assisted food customization aligns with the broader trend of tech-driven convenience and personalization in our daily lives.
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