Neapolitan pizza replicated by Artificial Intelligence: Massimo Bottura's opinion
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The famous Neapolitan pizza can be perfectly reproduced anywhere in the world thanks to Artificial Intelligence, according to Massimo Bottura.
The multi-Michelin-starred chef and founder of Osteria Francescana expressed this opinion during an interview for “Possible,” a podcast created by LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and co-author Aria Finger. During the interview, Bottura emphasized the importance of using technology in the right way.
Artificial Intelligence in the Kitchen
An excerpt of Bottura's speech was published and subtitled on the blog of Antonio Prigiobbo, one of the major startup experts in Italy and founder of the accelerator "NAStartUp".
According to Bottura, AI can globalize culinary traditions even more incisively. He cited the company “ItalPizza” from Modena as an example, arguing that making a perfect pizza is possible thanks to a machine that follows the recipe to the letter with a scientific and precise approach.
Technology at the service of the kitchen
Bottura explained that technology can help to get the right amount of ingredients such as tomato, olive oil and oregano, as well as ensuring that they are cooked at the right temperature. In this way, it is possible to get an identical Neapolitan pizza both in Modena and in the Czech Republic. However, Bottura also acknowledged that “imperfections” in the kitchen can lead to the creation of extraordinary recipes. He believes that with the use of technology, human errors can be eliminated, allowing chefs to focus on creating new recipes.
Antonio Prigiobbo's reactions and opinion
Bottura’s statements sparked immediate reactions on social media. Antonio Prigiobbo, in particular, expressed his disagreement on the blog, despite recognizing the chef’s mastery and experience.
He explains that the art of making pizza is part of the history and tradition of his family, which has run the Antica Pizzeria Prigiobbo for over a hundred years. Prigiobbo, dealing with innovation and production in the industrial sector for over 30 years, is particularly sensitive to the topic.
The importance of craftsmanship and seasonality
Prigiobbo wonders why Bottura is so fascinated by technology to standardize his products. When you try to maximize and standardize a product, you take the path of the industrial process.
However, since it is an artisanal product, made with the manual skills of a craftsman, Prigiobbo believes that one of the joys of a pizza is discovering a slightly different version each time. For him, the seasonality and uniqueness of fresh products are what makes a pizza special.
Pizza as a form of craftsmanship
In conclusion, the blog emphasizes that pizza is a product that changes with the seasons, influenced by ingredients such as tomato and oregano. Pizza, par excellence, can be seen as a form of craftsmanship and uniqueness precisely because it is changeable. This opinion contrasts with Bottura's vision, which focuses on the perfect reproducibility offered by technology.
Article published on 26 June 2024 - 07:15
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