Mondelez International, the snack food giant behind beloved brands like Oreo and Chips Ahoy, is leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to accelerate its product development process. The company has developed a proprietary AI tool that helps food scientists generate new snack ideas and optimize recipes, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article.
This innovative tool allows Mondelez’s food scientists to input desired characteristics for a new snack, including specific flavor profiles (e.g., “buttery,” “in-mouth saltiness,” “vanilla intensity”), aroma notes (e.g., “oily,” “egg flavor,” “burnt”), and visual aspects (e.g., “amount of chips,” “roundness,” “chip edges”). Beyond sensory attributes, the AI also considers crucial factors like ingredient costs, environmental impact, and nutritional value.
Importantly, Mondelez isn’t using generative AI, which is known for sometimes producing nonsensical outputs. Instead, they utilize machine learning, a more established form of AI that excels at optimizing existing processes. Similar to how navigation apps like Waze leverage machine learning to determine the most efficient route, Mondelez’s AI tool analyzes vast amounts of data to identify the optimal combination of ingredients to achieve the desired product characteristics.
The Journal article highlighted some initial challenges with the AI tool. In early versions, the algorithm, lacking sufficient data, sometimes proposed unusual ingredient combinations. For example, it suggested excessive amounts of baking soda due to its low cost, resulting in unpalatable cookies.
To refine the AI’s performance, Mondelez trained it on the “essence” of its existing products, like Oreos, to ensure new creations align with consumer expectations. Furthermore, all AI-generated recipes undergo rigorous taste testing before moving forward.
Mondelez asserts that this AI-driven approach has significantly accelerated the product development cycle. New products now reach production trials 4-5 times faster compared to the traditional trial-and-error method.
This strategic application of AI demonstrates how even traditionally “analog” industries like food production can benefit from advanced technologies. By streamlining the innovation process, Mondelez aims to stay ahead of the curve and continuously delight consumers with exciting new snack offerings.
