homehome Home chatchat Notifications


When supercomputers start to cook: meet Chef Watson

There are probably a million cooking apps out there, but none of them are backed by a supercomputer. Meet Chef Watson: a “cognitive computing app” that promises to revolutionize the way you cook and expand your gastronomic comfort zone.

Henry Conrad
June 25, 2015 @ 6:45 am

share Share

There are probably a million cooking apps out there, but none of them are backed by a supercomputer. Meet Chef Watson: a “cognitive computing app” that promises to revolutionize the way you cook and expand your gastronomic comfort zone.

Bon Appetit announced a new collaboration with IBM, called “Chef Watson,” which invites amateur and professional chefs to try new, unexpected flavor combinations, based on Watson’s analysis of over 10,000 recipes. The supercomputer analyzed what ingredients go together well in different styles of cooking and recommends ingredients based on what you are already using. For each ingredient, Chef Watson suggests three other ingredients (in various quantities) that probably complement its flavor, as well as dish suggestions. Now, the Web app is open to everyone – log on, tell it what you want to cook and try its suggestions.

Programmers also made it easier to implement food restrictions (such as vegetarianism or allergies). It also suggests dishes based on what ingredients you already have in your kitchen.

While this probably won’t revolutionize cooking, it’s definitely a great example of how high-end technology can help people in day to day tasks.

“Chef Watson demonstrates how smart machines can help people explore the world around them and discover new possibilities and new ways of getting things done, whether it’s finding promising treatment pathways to fight diseases or helping law firms build courtroom strategies by discovering connections between their cases and earlier precedents,” IBM Chief Storyteller Stephen Hamm wrote in a blog post. “It also signals that there will be a wide variety of uses for cognitive technologies designed to help individuals live better and have more fun.”

 

share Share

A New AI Can Spot You by How Your Body Bends a Wi-Fi Signal

You don’t need a phone or camera to be tracked anymore: just wi-fi.

A Simple Heat Hack Could Revolutionize How We Produce Yogurt

In principle, the method could be deployed tomorrow, researchers say.

Low testosterone isn't killing your libido. Sugar is

Small increases in blood sugar can affect sperm and sex, even without diabetes

I Don’t Know Who Needs to Hear This, But It's Okay to Drink Coffee in the Summer

Finally, some good news.

This Ancient Grain Could Power the Future of 3D-Printed Food

Sorghum bioink could be the next step towards printed food.

Cheese Before Bed Might Actually Be Giving You Nightmares

Eating dairy or sweets late at night may fuel disturbing dreams, new study finds.

Scientists Ranked the Most Hydrating Drinks and Water Didn't Win

Milk is more hydrating than water. Here's why.

Elon Musk says he wants to "fix" Grok after the AI disagrees with him

Grok exposed inconvenient facts. Now Musk says he’s “fixing” his AI to obey him.

This anti-aging drug extends life as effectively as restricting calories

For centuries, humans have searched for ways to extend life. Alchemists never found the philosopher’s stone, but scientists have consistently shown that a longer life can be attained by eating less – at least in certain lab animals. But can we find a way to live longer while still enjoying our food? Compounds that mimic […]

Stanford's New Rice-Sized Device Destroys Clots Where Other Treatments Fail

Forget brute force—Stanford engineers are using finesse to tackle deadly clots.