A Dubai pizza chain has achieved unexpected success by collaborating with ChatGPT, the AI chatbot developed by OpenAI. Spartak Arutyunyan, Dodo Pizza’s head of menu development, shared that the restaurant’s latest hit dish was crafted entirely by artificial intelligence.
“We asked ChatGPT to create a recipe – the best pizza for Dubai,” Arutyunyan told the BBC. “We launched it, it was actually a huge hit, and it’s still on the menu.”
The AI-designed pizza features a distinctive blend of ingredients aimed at reflecting Dubai’s cultural diversity. This eclectic creation includes shawarma chicken, Indian grilled paneer cheese, Middle Eastern Za’atar herbs, and tahini sauce. Despite initial doubts, the unconventional mix has become a favorite among customers.
“As a chef, I wouldn’t mix these ingredients ever on a pizza, but still, the mix of flavours was surprisingly good,” Arutyunyan admitted.
Arutyunyan turned to ChatGPT to devise a pizza that represents the varied tastes of Dubai’s population, which includes people from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Arab countries, and Europe.
However, not all of ChatGPT’s culinary suggestions were successful. The AI also proposed less palatable combinations, such as strawberries with pasta and blueberries with breakfast cereal on pizza.
Dodo Pizza isn’t alone in exploring AI for menu innovation. Other restaurants, like Velvet Taco in Dallas, have also used AI to generate new recipes. Velvet Taco’s culinary director, Venecia Willis, noted that while AI can produce “funky combinations,” it serves as a useful tool for overcoming creative blocks.
As AI continues to influence various industries, its role in culinary innovation highlights a growing trend of integrating technology with traditional practices.
