Japan Dishes Up Alcoholic Beverages Concocted By AI

Japan’s Sapporo beverage company is a prominent brand that mainly delivers beers. However, it is also known for a type of drink called chÅ«hai, a canned cocktail. Initially, these were limited to just a lemon flavor but, over time, have come to include other taste profiles, such as lime, apple, orange, peach, grapefruit, and even cream soda, for those looking for something a little more adventurous.

Nikkei Asia notes that over the years, the popularity of chūhai has grown, and fans of the drink have since begun to want different flavors.

So, to keep up with its growing fanbase, Sapporo has employed a new type of mixologist to aid in product development: artificial intelligence. This new generative model, created in partnership with IBM, is set to test different combinations and recipes. Previously, such a process would take humans six months to complete, but with the new addition to the team, it should take just two months.

The model will be granted access to all 170 of Sapporo’s products for its reference, 1,200 recipes, and 700 ingredients the company uses. In order to give it some direction, the company can tell it up to 10 flavor descriptions, such as “sweet” or “sour.”

“Theoretically, the system can produce over one trillion combinations,” said Soichi Sakashita at Sapporo unit Sapporo Breweries via Nikkei Asia. From the same report, the generative tool has also suggested adding beer to the formula for a more potent drink.

Subsequently, the system will serve 100 options for the company to sift through and determine the best.

For those living in Japan, keep an eye out for an AI-made cocktail as the drink hits the shelves in time for the summer.

[via PC Mag and TechTimes, Photo 170962075 © Monticelllo | Dreamstime.com]