"Customized Food with Chat GPT Ads" Food Industry Expands AI Utilization

Growing Use of AI... Food Industry Focuses
Highlighted by COVID-19, Food Security Crisis Also a Factor
Endless Applications "From Customized Food to Marketing"

As the industrial sector based on artificial intelligence (AI) expands, the food industry is also broadening its business areas applying AI to increase customer touchpoints. In particular, AI is becoming increasingly important as a core technology in the food tech sector within the food industry.

Pulmuone employees are reviewing the content designed on product packaging using the 'Food Labeling Auto-Completion Platform.'
[Photo by Pulmuone]

Food tech is a new industry field that combines food and technology, integrating various innovative technologies into the food industry. With the advancement of robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), and AI technologies, the food tech industry is on the rise. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation and others on the 5th, the global food tech market, which was around $211 billion in 2017, grew by about 12% to $238 billion in 2019. It expanded further to $272 billion in 2021, surpassed $311 billion this year, and is expected to reach $360 billion by 2025. This growth is partly due to increased concerns about food security following the decline in agricultural trade and farming populations worldwide after COVID-19. The importance of non-face-to-face services such as online transactions has also increased since COVID-19, accelerating the development of related industries.

AI is considered a core technology in food tech. The applications of AI technology are limitless. Especially with the release of the API (Application Programming Interface) for 'Chat GPT,' anyone can now provide services, lowering the entry barriers. It is expected that the trend toward simplification and automation of processes such as food ingredient production, development, distribution, and cooking will accelerate across various industries, from large corporations to startups.

Narrowly speaking, it has become common to introduce robots equipped with AI technology in restaurants, food manufacturing plants, and food distribution companies. Companies offering personalized food through the combination of AI and big data are also emerging one after another. They use data on individuals’ health and preferences to mass-produce customized food or directly cook meals and provide personalized services based on this data. It has also become possible to search real-time trends to suggest new products or respond to consumers. The food industry is utilizing this in various ways. Domestically, companies like Hyundai Green Food (Greeting), hy (It's On Care On), and Pulmuone (Design Meal) are widely applying AI in the care food sector.

SPC Group is also expanding its AI scanner business through its total marketing solution affiliate, Sectnine. Currently, SPC operates AI scanners at SPC-affiliated food and beverage stores such as Paris Baguette, Fashion 5, and Paris Croissant. When products are placed on the checkout counter, the system scans them in about one second and quickly proceeds to payment. SPC Samlip also signed a business agreement with Yanolja Cloud for a joint ready-meal business using big data and for developing food ingredient distribution. Additionally, AI is used in marketing and advertising fields. SPC Baskin Robbins released an advertising video using Chat GPT for the first time in Korea to commemorate the launch of this month’s flavor, 'Peach Up with Peach.'

CJ marketers are creating copy phrases using a personalized AI copywriter tailored to their preferences.
[Photo by CJ]

CJ developed and implemented a 'Preference-tailored AI Copywriter' that automatically generates marketing copy optimized for customer preferences. CJ AI Center plans to enhance the service by learning big data across various categories such as food, beauty, fashion, and entertainment, incorporating additional customer preference analysis and user feedback through automated learning. CJ Freshway is also expanding the scope of related technology use. Last month, it signed a tripartite business agreement with data platform operator 'Nuvant' and food tech startup 'Marketboro' for joint data utilization. The goal is to integrate and analyze dining-out related data accumulated individually by each company to quickly grasp dining trends and proactively develop differentiated products and services. CJ Freshway also invested 40.3 billion KRW in Market Robo last year to accelerate digital transformation.

Additionally, Pulmuone has developed its own 'Food Labeling Auto-Completion Platform,' where AI automatically completes and informs customers of essential information such as product raw materials and allergens, applying it to major product manufacturing processes. Pulmuone plans to expand digital transformation across its entire business based on this AI technology capability.

An industry insider said, "The ability to accurately capture rapidly changing consumer trends and respond to demand has become more important than ever," adding, "In the future, the success or failure of a business will be determined by how well it equips itself with innovative technological competitiveness."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.