-- Shares Facebook Twitter Reddit Email This article was originally published on The Conversation . Automating food is unlike automating anything else. Food is fundamental to life – nourishing body and soul – so how it's accessed, prepared and consumed can change societies fundamentally.
Automated kitchens aren't sci-fi visions from "The Jetsons" or "Star Trek." The technology is real and global . Right now, robots are used to flip burgers , fry chicken , create pizzas , make sushi , prepare salads , serve ramen , bake bread , mix cocktails and much more.
AI can invent recipes based on the molecular compatibility of ingredients or whatever a kitchen has in stock . More advanced concepts are in the works to automate the entire kitchen for fine dining. Since technology tends to be expensive at first, the early adopters of AI kitchen technologies are restaurants and other businesses.
Over time, prices are likely to fall enough for the home market , possibly changing both home and societal dynamics. Can food technology really change society? Yes, just consider the seismic impact of the microwave oven . With that technology, it was suddenly possible to make a quick meal for just one person, which can be a benefit but also a social disruptor.
Familiar concerns about the technology include worse nutrition and health from prepackaged meals and microwave-heated plastic containers . Less obviously, that convenience can also transform eating from a communal, cultural and creative ev.