A New Zealand Supermarket has made a big mistake with its AI meal planner which has led to the app creating several concerning and unusual dishes based on the customer’s available items.
AI Meal Planner Creates Chlorine Gas
As reported by The Guardian, New Zealand supermarket Pak ‘n’ Save has recently been experimenting with a meal planner which uses AI technology and is a way for users to creatively use their leftovers to create other meals. The app simply asks users to input their available ingredients and the AI will generate a meal plan and recipe, interestingly the app allows for more than just food items to be input leading to some bizarre results. Customers experimenting with the service were presented with a recipe titled “aromatic water mix” as “the perfect nonalcoholic beverage to quench your thirst and refresh your senses.” Sounds delightful doesn’t it, well no because its chlorine gas which I’ve heard is not a fun gas. Other dishes included ant-poison and glue sandwiches, bleach-infused rice surprise and a bleach “fresh breath” mocktail. All very delicious sounding and quite tempting.
Of course, this is not how the app is meant to be used and a spokesperson for the supermarket stated that they were disappointed “a small minority have tried to use the tool inappropriately and not for its intended purpose” which they shouldn’t be surprised, its the internet and we’ve been trying to get AI to do terrible things since 2008’s Cleverbot. They went on further to say that they would be working to improve the services that they offer to ensure that it is safe and useful and highlighted the 18+ rating in the terms and services. I think the first step for improvements would be preventing bleach from becoming an ingredient as it seems to be a fan favourite.
I’m off to make myself a Bleach Infused ice cream with slug pellet toppings.
