Have you ever found yourself drooling over an exquisite dish while watching your favorite cooking show? Whether it’s the layered masterpiece of il timpano in “Big Night” or the classic beef bourguignon from “Julie & Julia,” many viewers have wished they could recreate such culinary delights in their own kitchens. Now, with Samsung’s latest technological innovation presented at CES 2025, home cooks are one step closer to making their culinary dreams a reality—assuming they invest in a 2025 Samsung TV.
During the CES 2025 event in Las Vegas, Samsung unveiled Samsung Food, an intelligent feature integrated into its television sets that leverages artificial intelligence to recognize food items displayed on-screen. This feature goes beyond simply admiring the culinary arts; it recommends recipes directly associated with the dishes being viewed. Of course, for those familiar with Samsung’s landscape, the name might ring a bell. The technology traces back to Samsung’s acquisition of the food app Whisk in 2019, which was rebranded in 2023 as Samsung Food.
Currently available on iOS and Android devices, Samsung Food presents itself as a comprehensive cooking companion that not only offers a meal-planning tool but also AI-assisted cooking instructions. The premium version, priced at $7 per month, allows users to receive recipes based on images they upload. However, the TV application appears somewhat limited in capabilities compared to its mobile counterpart. Samsung Food on TV can identify dishes, recommend recipes, and track grocery and takeout orders made through the app, but it lacks the extensive features available on the smartphone version.
Moreover, Samsung promotes its shopping list capabilities, indicating that it can generate ingredient lists based on inventory found in one’s refrigerator. This innovative approach aims to revolutionize how users think about meal prep and cooking, establishing Samsung Food as a potential “ultimate AI sous chef.” Nonetheless, it remains to be seen if this feature will effectively deliver on its promises.
While the concept of an AI-focused kitchen assistant appears exciting, the practical applications of existing technologies evoke skepticism. The performance of tools like Recipe app SideChef, which attempts to convert photos into recipes, has left much to be desired. Additionally, chatbots and summarizers like ChatGPT often struggle to provide reliable culinary assistance, with results that can be rather hit-or-miss—think cardboard-tasting glue pizza.
And therein lies a critical limitation: while AI can suggest recipes, it cannot substitute for the skill and effort required in cooking. For many, the allure of trying a complex recipe featured in a cooking show can quickly fade when faced with the reality of executing it ourselves. Therefore, this might serve as a deterrent for those who find cooking a daunting task.
Despite the hurdles and limitations present in AI cooking technology, Samsung’s ambitious foray into the culinary scene provides an intriguing glimpse into the future of cooking in households. The 2025 QN90F, QN80F, and QN70F models will feature Samsung Food, and perhaps for some, this clever integration of technology might finally inspire those culinary adventures long admired on screen. It remains to be seen whether the combination of food recognition and AI recommendations can truly transform the cooking experience and satisfy even the most discerning of food lovers.