NYT Cooking App Experimenting with AI to Enhance Recipe Modifications

The New York Times is currently experimenting with a new AI feature in its Cooking app that is designed to assist users in customizing recipes. This development has sparked a lively debate among its user base. The project was unveiled by Genevieve Ko, the senior editor of NYT Cooking, who explained that the new functionality can suggest ingredient substitutions, adjust recipe quantities for any number of servings, and adapt recipes according to specific cooking needs.

One illustrative example highlighted in the announcement involves a user requesting to swap kale for baby spinach. The Cooking app responds by advising that baby spinach, which wilts more quickly, should be incorporated at a different stage in the cooking process. Ko emphasized that the feature can also modify recipes based on available cookware and tools. Importantly, the customized recipes generated by the AI are private and cannot be shared or published within the app. The rollout of this AI feature is gradual, currently available to all Cooking subscribers using the iOS app, with broader access anticipated in the near future.

However, not all feedback has been positive. Several readers have voiced concerns over the environmental consequences of adopting AI technologies on a large scale and what this might mean for the overall user experience. When a user inquired about the possibility of disabling the AI feature, Ko replied, “No, not at this time,” while clarifying that the feature remains entirely optional for those who choose to use it.

One particularly disappointed NYT reader expressed, “It’s incredibly disheartening. I’ve always loved NYT Cooking, and it saddens me that the AI influence has extended into what was once a simple and cherished collection of diverse recipes.”

This isn’t the first venture into AI for the NYT Cooking app. Ko noted that two years ago, an AI tool was introduced to convert imperial volume measurements to metric weight measurements, and last year, a new feature was added to alter recipes by halving or doubling the original serving sizes. Following the latest announcement, comments on the related article have been closed, though Jordan Cohen, a spokesperson for the NYT, explained this is standard procedure:

“Comments on this article were open for four days, during which editors from Cooking actively engaged with readers, addressing concerns and answering questions. Closing comments on older articles is a common practice at The Times, allowing moderators to focus on current discussions. We’re pleased to see many in our Cooking community interested in trying out this new tool on our iOS app, with positive feedback so far.”