From Alexa in our homes to self-driving cars and artificial intelligence (AI) assistants, it’s safe to say that AI is becoming more increasingly integrated into our daily lives. No matter what industry you work in, it’s more than likely that AI has touched your workplace in some shape or form, with the food industry being no exception. The Mckinsey Global Survey on AI reveals that the adoption of AI has more than doubled since 2017, so how exactly is it changing the food industry today? 

With algorithms and data models foreseeing consumer food trend predictions and identifying shifts and trajectories in the culinary industry, this new movement could help food organisations and companies speed up their processes and find what their customers currently value. 

AI forecasting technologies such as Ai Palette and Tastewise are just some of the platforms that aim to pinpoint future trends in the food scene. Through AI analysing restaurant menus, skimming online food industry blogs and identifying social media food consumption patterns, businesses can stay ahead of evolving tastes and preferences without wasting time, money or resources. 

Many food companies are seeing the positives that come with AI, recognising its potential to revolutionise how they understand consumer preferences and adapt to trends. However, while there are many positives to this new technology, challenges such as the lack of human creativity and standardised data are some of the key factors that companies must be cautious of. Instead of relying solely on artificial intelligence businesses should use AI as another string to their bow. Here we explore some of the key factors of using AI in food industry trend forecasting…  

Staying one step ahead of competitors

Generative AI forecasting has the potential to enhance the competitive edge of food businesses against their rivals. It can analyse a brand’s customer preferences and give personalised recommendations according to a specific food brand. It can look at a company’s consumer insights, using social media and data to help tailor to their audience, providing a competitive edge. 

AI algorithms that recognise patterns and consumer values and provide detailed insights can help companies make data-driven decisions. Such decision-making, coupled with the strategic integration of a food trend forecaster, can propel a company ahead of the curve. Leveraging the combined strengths of artificial intelligence with a professional gives organisations an advantage compared to other competitors in the food market who are against the use of AI forecasting. 

Saving time

Artificial intelligence scans billions of data and information in an impossibly quick manner, this saves food researchers from having to use market research agencies and reduces the number of hours spent researching upcoming trends.   

With the use of AI technology, forecasters can focus their time on other important areas of marketing, while platforms such as AI Palette and Tastewise can focus on what would be days’ worth of work, providing the results in a time-efficient manner. Although, it is imperative that companies acknowledge the risks that can occur with the use of AI and its pitfalls by consistently checking the information it feeds us. AI can be described as a mere tool when used on its own, but when integrated with professional human expertise, it can become an important instrument for business success.

Assisting with online marketing efforts

As mentioned above, with AI, food trend forecasters within companies can streamline their time more efficiently and gain assistance in other areas of marketing. The data gathered via AI forecasting can go beyond just food trend predictions that end up on consumers’ plates — the information collected can also help brands improve their online marketing efforts through blogs, social content, and campaigns. 

AI platforms such as Tastewise and TasteGPT help food trend forecasters explore trending ingredients, top consumer needs, and popular recipes that can be beneficial for all types of marketing purposes, such as increasing followers, website visitors, and showcasing industry knowledge.

Helping researchers make informed decisions

From time to time, food companies can produce inaccurate food trend predictions, but generative AI can predict more succinct forecasts such as the ingredients, products, dishes, or cultural foods that will be trending based on the large volumes of data it can access. This isn’t to say that AI forecasting never predicts wrong, but it gives food researchers a helping hand in making more informed decisions, giving brands that extra bit of assistance. 

While artificial intelligence isn’t a replacement for human food forecasters as (like humans) it’s also prone to making errors and reporting inaccurate information and biases. For example, just take the New Zealand Pak’nSave supermarket recipe app, where an aromatic water mix recipe was published, and if followed through, creates deadly chlorine gas, or the bizarre Oreo vegetable stir fry recipe that was suggested. These examples demonstrate why the human element within the food industry is still essential. 

Collaboration between an AI platform and food trend forecasters can prevent potential brand downfalls caused by AI errors while delivering insight into food trend results within an impossibly quick timeframe. The combination of human oversight and AI in the food industry ensures accuracy and efficiency to help enhance organisations when researching consumer needs within the food industry.

Looking for an extra pair of hands to help grow your food and drink brand? As an integrated Brisbane PR agency with bags experience in the food industry experience, we’re perfectly placed to support you on your journey! Get in touch today.