Chef Acknowledges ChatGPT

Invented His Hit Pizza

 

 

An Unlikely Culinary Collaboration

“As a chef, I wouldn’t mix these ingredients ever on a pizza, but still, the mix of flavors was surprisingly good.”

That’s what Spartak Arutyunyan, head of menu development at Dodo Pizza in Dubai, told the BBC after a unique experiment involving OpenAI’s chatbot, ChatGPT. The AI-generated recipe became a surprising hit and remains on the restaurant’s menu.

 

 

AI Meets Fusion Cuisine

To reflect Dubai’s diverse culinary culture, ChatGPT suggested an unusual but culturally resonant combination of toppings: tahini sauce, Middle Eastern Za’atar herbs, Indian grilled paneer cheese, and Arab-style shawarma chicken.

The chef admitted that he would never have considered such a mix himself. However, the unexpected blend of flavors worked well enough to earn a permanent spot on the menu.

 

 

Sorting Through the Rejects

Not all AI-created recipes cut. According to Arutyunyan, some ideas, like a pizza topped with spaghetti and strawberries or a pie made with blueberries and breakfast cereal, were quickly rejected.

While AI provided some absurd suggestions, it also helped trigger fresh ideas. In the words of Arutyunyan, the process sparked creativity in unexpected ways.

 

 

A Broader AI Trend in the Food Industry

The use of generative AI like ChatGPT in food businesses is becoming increasingly popular. However, success is mixed.

Take, for instance, BetterBlends in San Francisco. The shop tried to capitalize on AI-generated smoothie recipes, but the business eventually folded.

Similarly, Velvet Taco in Dallas experimented with ChatGPT. Culinary director Venecia Willis shared that while many combinations were odd, the tool was useful when creative inspiration was lacking. “It can suggest something I might not have thought of,” she explained.

 

 

Experts Remain Skeptical

Despite these creative applications, not everyone is impressed. Linguistics professor Emily Bender voiced concerns about the role of AI in recipe creation. “If you can get ChatGPT to spit out something that looks like a recipe, then it’s because there are recipes on the internet,” she told the BBC.

 

 

Final Thoughts

Whether embraced as a creative aid or dismissed as a gimmick, AI’s role in the kitchen continues to evolve. One thing’s for sure: ChatGPT’s pizza recipe has proven that even unconventional ideas can deliver delicious results.