Like an echo from the past, my 10-year-old self-reminiscences of the Jetsons' era and its splendid representation of future life. Sitting cross legged in front of our new color TV, with a bowl of Cheerios I would wonder, "Will this ever happen someday?" With Artificial Intelligence (AI) entering our world in a grand fashion, that 'someday' has arrived.

Imagine a world where technology pervades every aspect of our lives, including food manufacturing. It's the embodiment of everything George Jetson stood for. Automated systems brimming with the capabilities of AI, are now playing a role that would have been written off as fiction back in the 1960’s. AI tech is improving and maintaining food quality consistently, incorporating image recognition software, similar to the vision systems in robots like Rosie from the show. AI can identify defects or disparities in food products, detect potential food safety threats and provide an enhanced level of security in our food consumption cycle.

The episodic predicaments of the Jetsons now appear ludicrous. George was always in over his head as the single button pusher on a giant computer who worked 1 hour a day 3x a week. In today’s reality, AI empowers food manufacturers to streamline their supply chain. It identifies potential pitfalls like a clockwork circuit, eliminating waste, and masterfully utilizing resources for optimum efficiency. These systems, in their ever-alert state of consciousness, predict and stabilize supply and demand to prevent potential losses from over- or under-stocking.

As we witness companies embracing AI in food production, and reaping massive gains just like Mr. Spacely, George’s boisterous boss at Spacely's Space Sprockets. Production is faster and robots like Flippy ( who starred in the viral White Castle video) are equipped with the superior intelligence who’s production tasks are performed with perfectly cooked, golden, french-fry precision. Flippy helps reduce errors and boosts productivity so the human workers can have a more positive and uninterrupted engagement with the customers.

AI has succeeded in transforming some food environments into a personal marketplace. Analyzing each individual's dietary needs, allergies, and preferences and then offering a very personalized menu. It is a semblance of the Jetsons' Food-a-Rac-a-Cycle, leading the global consumer towards products tailor-made to their nutritional needs and tastes.

Concerns about AI are also very real. Do I think killer robots will be taking over Earth? That would be a NO. And call me naive since I also believe that human creativity, human relationships and our empathy can’t be replaced. However, privacy/safety/ security issues, data bias/human rights issues, jobs, a worldwide lack of regulatory and legal preparedness…These are giant concerns along all that I haven’t listed! - “Jane, Stop This Crazy Thing!”- IYKYK

Has AI entered into your job and homelife sphere? Please, share your comments.

Live well. Cheers

Approaching the Jetson Era

Join for free* to continue reading.