Here's how Cognitive Cooking works, which IBM explains on its website.
First, “cloud-based analytics uncover what makes a burrito a burrito or a bisque a bisque." A cognitive system considers thousands of ingredient combinations simultaneously, and then "thousands of ingredients yield quintillions of recipes" -- that’s a 1 followed by 18 zeroes.
Next, a computer evaluates what the ingredient combinations might taste like. Stated more specifically (hold onto your hats):
“Chemoinformatics turn flavors into molecular formulas. Hedonic psychophysics model taste to see which ones measure up.” (Please comment below if that means something to you other than “computer magic.”)
After that, “each recipe is analyzed and ranked according to its ability to surprise.” Then Watson spits out the recipe, so to speak, and a chef cooks it.
IBM publishes photos of the creations that come from its Cognitive Cooking food trucks on Flickr (and they look mighty delicious).
Photos by IBM Research, used with permission
