Gimmick or recipe for success? Japan's convenience stores test AI flavours

Japanese convenience store chains FamilyMart and Lawson are experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI) to develop new food products. The technology aims to suggest unique flavor combinations that customers may not have considered before. FamilyMart used AI to create a French-style canelé made with sweet potato dough and caramel sauce, while Lawson took a more unconventional approach, asking AI for unexpected combinations without using past sales data or market trends.

AI supplied the ideas for these potential new products, but human specialists were still involved in turning them into something edible. Lawson used AI to come up with a bread roll filled with red bean paste, margarine, and yoghurt cream, as well as a Japanese-style salad served like a parfait. One of Lawson's AI-inspired products is a pickle-flavored lemon tart, which will be launched in Tokyo and surrounding regions in September.

The pickle-flavored lemon tart faced mixed reactions. Shingo Shiina, a 64-year-old architect, found the combination surprising but tasty. He admitted that the unusual pairing of pickles and lemon tart was an unexpected AI creation. Lawson's other products have also received mixed reviews and feedback from customers. Ultimately, while AI helps generate new ideas, human judgment remains crucial in determining which products will succeed in the market.