Artificial intelligence-powered solutions are available for almost every aspect of food and beverage processing businesses, from quality control and cost optimization to supply chain management and even employee training, but where does the world of AI start? It can be difficult to know where to start.
Randall Craig, author and CEO of the education and training company Braintrust Professional Institute, says that AI is at its peak, with support for application programming interfaces (APIs) that can harness the power of large platforms. Masu.
While AI cannot replace human intuition, which is based on decades of business acumen and knowledge, it can optimize many aspects of food and beverage production, Craig says.
Craig sees the technology holistically and says it will have a significant impact on all sectors, including food and beverage production.
AI has the potential to streamline, optimize, and disrupt existing food and beverage processes.
“Everyone is moving in this direction,” he says. “Regardless of what software you use as a food processor, if not now, then relatively soon, software developers will come up with upgrades and additional modules that add AI to what you already have. is probably certain.”
AI has the potential to streamline, optimize, and disrupt existing processes. And it's important to note that as AI advances faster, the results will only get better, Craig says.
“Machine learning models have far more data points that allow the AI to come up with better results,” he says.
Some notable trends in the world of food and beverage processing include:
1. Higher personalization
Depending on the amount of personal information the customer is willing to share. AI helps food companies tailor products to customers based on factors such as dietary restrictions and health data. For example, are they diabetic or vegan, or do they have allergies or intolerances?
“This is an entire field where AI is king,” says Nestor Gomez, chief technology officer at the Canadian Food Innovation Network.
For example, energy drink manufacturers can tailor their drinks based on customer needs and preferences. If certain consumer groups have low salt tolerance, companies can produce beverages that feature reduced salt content. And it can be done at scale, Gomez says.
“You can create more products with more granularity without impacting cost.”
Craig agreed, pointing out that production speed and testing can also be improved.
“You can potentially take a bunch of recipes and optimize them for the recipe you really want to develop, which shortens the whole product development problem a lot,” he says.
2. Augmented Reality
A wave of algorithm-powered augmented reality products is being introduced into manufacturing. In food processing, advances are reshaping the processing field rather than directly impacting it. For example, waves of 3D imaging processes are being introduced into areas such as employee training.
Among them is Microsoft HoloLens, a mixed reality device that can overlay 3D images on top of the user's view of the real world in the correct position, scale, and orientation. Users can interact with these digital objects through voice commands and hand gestures.
Similarly, Quebec-based company DeepSight has pioneered AI-driven technology that relies on 3D animations and sequences to help employees perform tasks faster, more safely, and with fewer errors. Did.
Up to three-quarters of companies currently use job shadowing to train their employees, but technology like DeepSight could be a game-changer, according to Nicolas Bearzatto, co-founder and CEO of DeepSight. is hidden.
3. The emergence of specialized programs
AI is without a doubt the fastest-growing technological advancement Craig has ever seen.
“Social media, mobile, the internet and email were very fast, but the adoption rate of AI was faster than all of them,” he says.
Although AI began as a generalist technology trained on general-purpose models, it is rapidly integrating machine learning models based on very specific datasets. This means that the type of output the program provides has been significantly improved.
Food processors can decide how to harness the power of AI in two ways. One way is to ask your partners about their future roadmap, and the other way is to assess which parts of your business cost the most or pose the most risk.
“Instead of looking for general AI solutions, look for solutions and opportunities,” Craig says. “You may find that there is an AI-powered solution that is completely different from what you are currently doing.”
Article author: Chris Powell
