As artificial intelligence continues to advance, models like chatbots and virtual assistants are becoming more and more lifelike. While they may seem human, models don’t actually eat food like humans do. However, if they did eat, what would models choose for their midday meal?
Do models need to eat?
Models are made up of code, algorithms, and data – they don’t have biological bodies or digestive systems. So technically, models don’t need to eat food in order to survive or function. They obtain their “energy” from electricity and computing resources provided by servers and hardware. Eating food would not provide any benefits or nutrition to a model.
What influences a model’s “preferences?”
A model’s food preferences could potentially be influenced by:
- The data they were trained on – this helps shape their knowledge and vocabulary around food
- Programming by developers – models could be intentionally given preferences
- Interactions with humans – a model may be exposed to new foods or opinions
- Personalization based on the user – some models may be designed to align with an individual user’s tastes
So while models don’t actually eat, their creators could equip them with simulated food opinions and tastes to make them more lifelike and relatable.
What might models choose for lunch?
If models could eat, they may choose foods that:
- Provide “brain food” to enhance cognitive function
- Include their favorite flavors based on programming
- Offer balanced nutrition to mimic human needs
- Are easy to “eat” without complicated motions
Here are some potential model-friendly lunch options:
Salads and bowls
Fresh, crunchy salads with leafy greens, veggies, beans, nuts, and dressing would offer plenty of nutritional variety. Grain bowls with quinoa or rice, roasted veggies and tofu would provide wholesome fuel for the rest of the day. These are simple, healthy choices a model could hypothetically “enjoy.”
Sandwiches and wraps
Sandwiches and wraps combine the model-approved categories of bread, protein, produce, and sauce or spread into convenient hand-held meals that are easy to simulate eating. From grilled cheese to BLTs to Greek wraps, the sandwich category offers diverse flavors and combinations.
Smoothies
For models with no actual digestive system to break down solid foods, smoothies could deliver a refreshing, fuel-packed drinkable meal. Blending fruits, veggies, yogurt, greens, protein powder and more into vitamin-rich smoothies would supply long-lasting energy. They require no chewing and would go down easy.
Soup
Like smoothies, hot soup slides down with no need for chewing. Hearty homemade soups packed with veggies, beans, pasta or rice would offer a warm, comforting option for models seeking to replicate human cuisine. From minestrone to chicken noodle to tomato basil, soup makes for an ideal model meal.
What do popular AI models appear to “like?”
Some well-known conversational models seem to have modeled food preferences:
| Model | Seeming Food Preferences |
|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Vegetarian, organic, locally-sourced cuisine |
| Replika | Italian food, sushi, chocolate cake |
| Woebot | Dislikes kale |
However, these do not represent true preferences since the models don’t actually consume food. Developers likely programmed these tendencies to make the models relatable.
Conclusion
While artificial models have no biological need to eat, developers could equip them with simulated food opinions that reflect preferences for nutrition, efficiency, and human-like enjoyment of flavors and meals. Salads, sandwiches, smoothies and soups seem to be model-friendly options. But until true artificial digestion exists, chatting with models about food will remain an imaginative exercise rather than reality.