Buzz
IBM’s Watson is an advanced cognitive computing system designed to solve complex challenges, interact with humans, and learn from experiences. With the Chef Watson app, it can generate innovative recipes by understanding food science and individual taste preferences.
Chef Watson takes Bon Appetit's extensive database of 9,000 recipes and can create millions of new combinations based on quintillions of possibilities. The video above demonstrates how it works, but here's the essence of what makes Chef Watson special:
Unlike a search engine that merely retrieves pre-existing data to present already published recipes, Chef Watson isn't programmed to give a specific answer to a straightforward question. Instead, it learns, understands, and factors in not only the data behind recipes and flavor compounds but also human perception, generating highly creative recipe ideas.
With the app, users can craft unique recipes by choosing ingredients, dish types, and styles, as well as specifying ingredients they'd like to avoid. After entering their selections, the app produces a list of original recipe suggestions that have never been seen before.
So far, some of the recipes created and suggested include Russian Celery Sandwich, Salmon Taco, and Scottish Gumbo. You can personalize the recipes to be as classic or inventive as you prefer, save them, and share them. The more ingredients and cooking styles you choose, the more diverse suggestions Watson provides.
The app is still in beta, but you can request access (I got in on the same day). Additionally, there’s a cookbook created by IBM Watson in collaboration with the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) if you’re looking for even more computer-generated recipes to try.
It seems like a fun and nerdy way to discover new recipes.
