Friend or foe: how will AI shape the future of drinks?

New research shows a growing demand for knowledge of AI in the hospitality sector, and artificial intelligence looks set to stay, with technology increasingly being used to help produce our drinks. New research from digital marketing agency Tank shows the food and beverage sector ranks fourth in the run to adopt AI in job roles, but fear not readers, because “human judgement and oversight are more important than ever,” says Martin Harris, TANK’s head of digital. From tasting wines and detecting fraudulent ones, to the world’s first AI beer and ChatGPT passing three of the Master Sommelier exams this year, many have been living in fear of AI replacing us and our jobs. Tank’s AI & Me Report found that 1 in 100 job advertisements for the food and beverage sector require some experience of working with AI. The company’s findings suggest more jobs are requiring workers to “use AI tools responsibly and in a way that delivers value”. Still in trial-and-error phase of experimenting with AI, our jobs seem safe for now following the failure of AI employee Aimee back in September. Hired by Manchester-based PR company, Bottled Imagination, the AI failed to pass its probation period as digital marketing manager after agreeing to post-work drinks, forgetting it was a computer. So while Aimee didn’t quite find its calling in PR, perhaps AI will find its feet (so to speak) in the world of wine. A fast-developing industry, here are some of the ways AI can be expected to