NYT Cooking has launched an AI assistant for its iOS app, designed to help subscribers adapt recipes based on available ingredients and equipment. The tool allows users to request substitutions, scale portions, and convert measurements directly within the recipe page.
The assistant is trained on user comments and editorial content from the platform. When a user requests changes, the AI generates a modified version of the recipe in a separate tab, keeping the original intact. Users can toggle between the two versions while cooking.
During testing, the AI provided guidance on ingredient swaps, such as suggesting lime zest for makrut lime leaves or green beans for chard. It also includes safety guardrails, refusing to suggest inappropriate ingredient combinations like using beef in a dessert trifle.
Despite its utility, the assistant requires user oversight. In one instance, the tool provided an incorrect butter measurement for a cake when the user switched between the original and modified versions, highlighting the need for manual verification of cooking steps.
