Hey Pies –
As we wrap up a strong product year and many great stories. We have to say thank you for being a part of our increased engagement and 28% subscriber growth. From groundbreaking conversations about the future of food to exploring AI's role in sustainability, your engagement has fueled our mission.
Take a moment to dive into this Pioneers of AI interview on YouTube below. And then take a moment to indulge on why we think AI is a ghetto promise. Just ponder: Ghetto culture exemplifies raw, resourceful innovation—turning scarcity into sustainability, flavor, and resilience, much like the way AI is built from raw, unstructured data refined into transformative solutions. Both rely on repurposing the overlooked to create value, blending authenticity with adaptability. As AI evolves, it mirrors the ingenuity of ghetto traditions: starting from the margins and redefining the center of possibility.
Wishing you a great last 15 days of the year! 🌱
As consumers increasingly shift towards healthier and more sustainable food options, the pressure is on food brands to meet these evolving demands—with varying levels of success. The team asked to sit down with me to discuss the intersection of food and technology. As the CEO and founder of Journey Foods, Riana has developed an AI-powered platform that combines a patented recipe generator with innovative supply chain solutions to empower brands to create health-forward products and drive sustainable change.
Riana’s journey and insights were recently featured on Pioneers of AI. In this episode, she delves into her inspiration for creating Journey Foods, her entrepreneurial experiences, and how artificial intelligence is transforming the food industry. From sourcing smarter ingredients to developing products with purpose, AI is proving to be a powerful tool for crafting a sustainable and nutritious food future.
Highlights from the Episode
🎵 Listen to the Podcast
Explore the cutting-edge work happening at Journey Foods and more about Pioneers of AI: www.pioneersof.ai
About Pioneers of AI
Each week, host Rana el Kaliouby dives into the latest advancements in artificial intelligence with innovators, critics, and visionaries shaping the field. From ethics to groundbreaking tech, Pioneers of AI helps you understand how AI is transforming our world.
Despite recent controversy over its name taking TikTok by storm, our friends at the Bronx-based brand Ghetto Gastro continues to stay true to its roots while redefining the food and culture landscape. As a Target partner and e-commerce success, this culinary collective remains committed to its mission of storytelling through food.
Riana here: I used to crave candy more often than I’d like to admit, and now I find myself back to indulging in cinnamon holiday gummies. But as I explore the world of Dubai chocolate and TikTok-famous Nerd trends, I can’t help but wonder: what happens to these viral small businesses if TikTok Shops face an impending ban? TikTok has transformed into the new digital "mom-and-pop," seamlessly merging entrepreneurial creativity with e-commerce flow. When India lost TikTok overnight, 200 million users adapted quickly—but how will U.S.-based small businesses pivot? Will they find a home on platforms like Substack, Instagram, or even return to brick-and-mortar streets? The ban has the potential to radically change how we discover and support small brands, and we’re standing on the edge of that transformation.
What to Eat on a Burning Planet - "Sorry, But This is the Future of Food": This NYT series challenges assumptions about agriculture, advocating for a pragmatic approach to industrial farming. While often vilified, industrial agriculture’s efficiency and increased innvestment in AI makes it vital for feeding a growing global population without further devastating natural ecosystems. Innovations such as precision farming, genetically engineered crops, and sustainable practices are key to balancing the environmental impact with the need for higher yields. But what is lost, and what is not considered?
Global indigenous practices can be scaled, and frankly, that conversation is missing here.
Read more here.
A Vision to Ponder:
Which one food item are you bringing to the future? Which food item do you think AI is going to forget about? (*hint we will add your answers to our database as high risk - 😭)
Upcoming Features...
Eat well.
