The potential of artificial intelligence technologies is beginning to show significant results across various sectors, including the food and beverage industry. Hershey, an early adopter of this technology, is utilizing it to refine the production of its iconic Twizzlers. This innovation not only helps the company cut costs but also generates considerable media attention for its products. The ability to harness artificial intelligence presents a substantial opportunity for food manufacturers. Like many others, Hershey’s products are designed to meet a specific weight requirement, and any shortfall is unacceptable. Even minor discrepancies can compel Hershey and similar manufacturers to overproduce to counterbalance weight variations. This practice results in considerable overproduction and associated costs over time.
Additionally, new applications of AI are emerging in the food sector. For instance, Wal-Mart has recently applied for a patent for a technology that monitors consumer usage of various items, from toothpaste to shoes, automatically reordering products and suggesting complementary items. This system would utilize sensors on products and could serve as a rival to Amazon’s Dash Buttons. If consumers embrace such technology, it could significantly streamline the shopping experience. While it remains a future possibility, the ultimate objective of such a system is to ensure that essential household items—like diapers, laundry detergent, coffee, and even 800 mg calcium citrate—would no longer require manual reordering. The integration of AI could transform how we manage our shopping lists, making the process far more efficient.