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Behold the world’s first AI-generated whisky – it’s pretty neat!
DevelopmentNews May 28, 2019 Tom Gainey
If youâre a lover of artificial intelligence (AI) software and whisky, prepare to have your day made.
The worldâs first AI-generated whisky is about to be poured. Whatâs better? It sounds delicious and you can buy it.
Even if youâre not a big fan of the tipple please carry on reading. We promise this will be a cracking âpub storyâ if nothing else!
Mackmyra, a Sweden-based distillery, has teamed up with Microsoft and Fourkind to develop the eye-catching product.
Researchers have punched Mackmyraâs existing recipes into the AI system to train it. Customer preferences and sales data is also part of the science.
More than 70 million recipes can be generated by the AI as a result. The AI predicts which ones will be popular too!
Calls for a toast: AI-generated whisky will soon be on the menu. Credit: kaicho20/Pixabay
It is understood that the liquor, which contains the unorthodox âartificial flavouringâ, will go on sale this autumn. The price however has not yet been confirmed.
AI-generated whisky? â Tell us more!
So, Mackmyra recently announced that it has enlisted the help of AI to create its new blend. Not only that, big names are onboard to make this happen.
The blend, described as âfruity and oaky, slightly salty and with a dryish endâ, has definitely got people talking.
In the past it has, of course, been the job of a Master Distiller to influence the process. Distilled whisky will always give off a familiar, smoky flavour – before being left in casks.
Casking helps the tipple to pick up intended flavours, as well as scents and colouring. At Mackmyra this integral strategy is now being left in the care of an AI system. So, if youâre an up-and-coming distiller you may hope this new practise doesnât catch on! (More on that later)
There is still a Master Blender at Mackmyra however; Angela DâOrazio, also known as âMiss Whiskyâ. Speaking to Esat Dedezade, a writer for the Microsoft Blog, she revealed her thoughts.
The world's first AI-created whisky has arrived. đ„
Together with @Microsoft, @mackmyra is creating the worldâs first whisky developed with #AI. Learn more: https://t.co/VJWLrBZgG1 pic.twitter.com/107CLNqRws
— Microsoft Europe (@MSEurope) May 14, 2019
According to DâOrazio, the team wanted to discover recipes that âwill never have occurred to a personâ and this can only be done with AI.
The Mackmyra team say they always strive to challenge the “very traditional” whisky trade â and who can argue with them on this one!?
âWe see AI as a part of our digital development, and it is really exciting to let AI be a complement to the craft of producing a high-quality whisky,â DâOrazio told Microsoft.
âFor me as Master Blender, it is a great achievement to be able to say that Iâm also now a mentor for the first ever created AI whisky in the world.â
Final thoughts
Pretty neat, right? (Pun definitely intended). Mackmyra say the AI models used are “much more complex” than ones used to create beer.
Why? They say it’s because “whisky recipe generation is more art than engineering”.
Itâs not all doom and gloom if youâre working at the Swedish distillery, however. The brand says that it still benefits from human expertise and knowledge.
DâOrazio describes it as âAI-generated, but human-curatedâ, stressing the decision process is ultimately still in the hands of a person.
Looking to read the full Microsoft feature on the software super brand’s work with Mackmyra? Check it out here.
Meanwhile, if youâre a fan of AI, stay tuned to the FileHippo News Blog and check out our wide array of program downloads.
Although we canât promise they all link back to the good stuff, there will be something for everyone!