Can You Stomach AI Recipes? Testing the Limits of Robot-Created Cuisine
Image Credit: Or Hakim | Unsplash
In recent years, AI-generated cookbooks have begun to infiltrate the marketplace, raising questions about the authenticity and quality of these recipes. One notable example is Teresa J Blair, an AI author who has published multiple cookbooks in record time. Despite their plausible appearance, these AI-generated books often lack the culinary expertise and human touch that traditional cookbooks offer.
Questionable Content and Legal Issues
Joanne Lee Molinaro, author of The Korean Vegan Cookbook, discovered a suspiciously similar AI-generated book on Amazon, written by "Rachael Issy". This imitation included recipes with non-vegan ingredients, leading Molinaro to threaten legal action. Such instances highlight the potential for AI to exploit and misrepresent human-created content, posing ethical and legal challenges.
Experimenting with AI Recipes
Paolo Rosson, author of The AI Cookbook, collaborated with GPT-3 to create AI-generated recipes. Despite some bizarre initial suggestions, such as bratwurst ice cream, Rosson found that some AI recipes, like "Sri Lankan currywurst", were surprisingly successful. However, the AI's lack of sensory experience means it can't truly understand flavor combinations or the nuances of cooking.
The Limitations of AI Cooking
Best-selling food writer Rukmini Iyer emphasizes that AI lacks the ability to test and refine recipes like human chefs. AI-generated cookbooks often produce odd and untested dishes, such as mojito recipes in a crockpot cookbook. This disconnect results in meals that are not only impractical but sometimes inedible.
The Real-World Impact of AI Cookbooks
It was reported that two of Teresa J Blair’s AI-generated cookbooks were filled with formatting errors and bizarre ingredient combinations. The Ultimate Crockpot Cookbook for Beginners predominantly featured mojito recipes, while The Ultimate Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook for Beginners offered a poorly executed Japanese hotpot. These experiences underscore the current limitations and potential pitfalls of relying on AI for culinary guidance.
The Role of AI in Recipe Reviews
AI-generated content is not limited to recipes; it extends to reviews as well. Many AI cookbooks climb the Amazon rankings thanks to AI-written reviews, creating a deceptive cycle that misleads consumers. This trend is also prevalent on YouTube, where AI-driven channels produce dubious recipes with artificially generated commentary.
The Legal and Ethical Landscape
The legal implications of AI-generated content are complex. While training AI on existing recipes is not inherently illegal, the reproduction of copyrighted material without proper attribution raises ethical concerns. As AI technology evolves, the definition of "training" and the boundaries of copyright law will need to be clarified.
