Artificial intelligence (AI) is an important driving force leading a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. The 2023 Central Economic Work Conference proposed to vigorously promote new industrialization, develop the digital economy, and accelerate the development of artificial intelligence. In recent years, the in-depth application of AI in the food industry has injected new momentum into the development of the industry. According to data released by market analysis agency Mordor Intelligence, the application value of artificial intelligence in the food and beverage market is expected to reach $29.94 billion in 2026, with a compound annual growth rate of more than 45.77% from 2021 to 2026. With the penetration of AI into all aspects of the food industry, how to view the positive role and negative impact of AI in the food field has also become a hot topic of discussion in the current industry and scientific circles.

Design formulas, draw packaging......

AI is integrated into the whole link of food brands

At the beginning of 2023, artificial intelligence represented by ChatGPT is menacing, and a number of "AI+" ideas have emerged in the food industry in marketing, packaging, products and other aspects.

"AI technology has a wide range of application prospects and market space in the food and beverage industry, and plays an important role in every link from R&D, production, sales to quality control. AI technology improves the production efficiency of enterprises, which will help enterprises optimize their sales models, change their product research and development and innovation methods, and profoundly change the market competition pattern of the food and beverage industry. Guo Tao, a senior artificial intelligence expert, said.

Previously, Coca-Cola's global creative platform "Lechuang Unbounded" launched a new limited product - the first sugar-free Coca-Cola "Next 3000 Years" created in conjunction with AI. It is understood that this is a commercial product with AI technology involved in flavor research and development, packaging design and product promotion.

There are also many food brands that use AI as a key means of digital transformation, constantly breaking through the boundaries of imagination. Nestlé is one of the first food and beverage companies to enter the AI market, trying to improve employee productivity by providing employees with generative AI for daily office use. At the end of 2023, McDonald's announced a partnership with Google to deploy generative AI to optimize massive data from thousands of restaurants, hoping to improve restaurant operational efficiency.

AI technology is bringing a disruptive technological revolution to the food industry. In addition to providing assistance in daily office, AI has shown amazing efficiency and "talent" in the speed of new product development, creative novelty, and grasp of consumer taste preferences.

In October 2022, Kraft Heinz released plant-based cheese developed based on AI technology.

In March 2023, Zhong Xuegao launched popsicles with the selling point of "AI full-link creation", which relies on AI technology to complete multiple links from naming, flavor selection to packaging design and product promotion;

In April, Yili launched 6 milk packaging designs made by AI, corresponding to 6 keywords of "sense of technology, natural vitality, oriental aesthetics, futurism, minimalism, and innocence";

In May, Wang Laoji launched the first batch of AI-independently designed tanks - "Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains Cans", "Mountain Creek Moonlight Cans", "Climbing High and Looking at Autumn Cans" and "Green Pine Lingyun Cans".

The relevant person in charge of Wang Laoji once said, "In the production and design process, AI technology can provide more diversified ideas and technical assistance, and in a field such as design that requires great creativity, the company can efficiently present ideas using AI tools." ”