AI will be ordering from the menu in the future
A program rolled out in Japan by food giant Nestle may give us a glimpse of the future for foodservice.
In Japan, 100,000 users of the Nestle Wellness Ambassador program send snaps of their food via the Line app that then recommends lifestyle changes and specially formulated supplements such as nutrient-rich teas, smoothies and vitamin-fortified snacks. They also get basic DNA tester kit to help identify susceptibility to common ailments like high cholesterol or diabetes.
It won’t be long before all food companies start to use artificial intelligence and DNA testing to deliver highly personalised food choices tweaked to ensure maximum longevity.
If you think this is just science fiction then simply follow the money. Nestle acquired Canadian dietary supplements maker Atrium Innovations this year for US$2.3 billion, its biggest medical-nutrition purchase in more than a decade.
In 2016, Campbell Soup Co ploughed US$32 million in San Francisco-based start-up Habit, which uses DNA and blood profiles to make diet recommendations, as well as offering nutritional coaching and tailored meal-kits.
DAVE: That donut looks nice.
HAL: I’m sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that. I’ve ordered you an algae smoothie instead.
Sheridan Randall, 6th September 2018
