Rebecca Manzi A pizza created by ChatGPT which represents the cultural mix of Dubai with its influences from various peoples: risky ingredients, but which customers really like
@Athena Sandrini/Pexels
At Dodo Pizza in Dubai, a pizza created by ChatGPT is capturing consumers’ attention. The idea of making a pizza with the help of artificial intelligence originated with Spartak Arutyunyan, the head of menu development for the chain. Arutyunyan wanted to tap into ChatGPT’s potential in coming up with a pizza that best embodied the cultural melting pot of Dubai, a city where the traditions of India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Arab world, and Europe meet.
ChatGPT rose to the challenge and proposed an unusual but at least interesting combination. So, what does ChatGPT have on its pizza? The base of that pizza is chicken shawarma, the famous Arab dish consisting of spiced meat.
To this, add the Shashlik of paneer-an Indian cheese marinated and grilled with spices for that inimitable touch of exotics-and flavors. Then, sprinkle a mix of Middle Eastern herbs, Za’atar, consisting of thyme, sesame seeds, and other spices on top of the pizza. Finally, top it with tahini sauce-a creamy paste made from sesame seeds that adds to the richness and bold flavor of the pizza.
Other restaurants using A.I. to create new dishes
The mix of ingredients above sounds pretty bold for a pizza and would turn the head of purists of this delicacy, especially Italians. But it has been surprisingly nice, both for its creators and customers alike. The mix, although quite diverse in taste, was well received with enthusiasm and quickly became one of the preferred dishes on the menu.
Dodo Pizza’s experiment in Dubai isn’t an isolated case. Other restaurant chains are testing the capabilities of artificial intelligence in creating novel dishes. Take, for instance, how Velvet Taco used ChatGPT to design a shrimp-steak taco in the United States.
Artificial Intelligence is turning out to be a really creative tool in the kitchen-it’s offering ideas and combinations that often just don’t come into the minds of traditional chefs. Will the future of cooking be powered by AI “chefs”?
