Hearst Unveils AI Voice Assistant 'Cooking Coach' for Delish

In a significant leap towards integrating artificial intelligence in culinary experiences, Hearst Communications has introduced the 'Cooking Coach,' an AI voice assistant designed for its popular recipe platform, Delish. This innovation, which emerged from a weekend project spearheaded by Alexandria Redmon, Hearst's Senior Director of AI Initiatives, officially launched earlier this month and provides home cooks with hands-free assistance while navigating recipes.

The Cooking Coach allows users to engage with Delish’s extensive database of over 30,000 recipes by simply speaking to the assistant, thus eliminating the hassle of touching devices with messy hands. According to Redmon, the initial idea was to create a personal assistant that could help solve common kitchen dilemmas such as managing multiple timers and suggesting ingredient substitutions. The assistant was developed alongside Joanna Saltz, Delish's Editorial Director, and Ashley Szwec, the Director of Product, over a five-month period, utilizing OpenAI's GPT language model under a content licensing agreement.

The launch comes at a time when media publishers face growing challenges from generative AI tools that threaten to redirect user traffic away from their platforms. As Google increasingly incorporates AI-driven summaries into its search results, lifestyle publishers like Delish are adapting to maintain audience engagement. Saltz noted that Delish has experienced some traffic impact due to these AI features but expressed confidence that innovative tools like Cooking Coach will keep the platform relevant. "Coming out with innovations that are different and interesting and fun and make cooking easier? I think it’s going to ensure that we’re relevant for a long time," she stated.

Industry experts emphasize the necessity for publishers to evolve in response to shifting user expectations. Josh Jaffe, an AI and media consultant, remarked that as consumers increasingly rely on AI tools for task completion, publishers must create interactive experiences to retain their audience. "User expectations are shifting from reading content to relying on AI tools that help them complete tasks step by step," Jaffe explained. The Cooking Coach addresses this demand by allowing users to ask for specific recipes, suggest ingredient substitutions, adjust serving sizes, and set timers—all through voice commands in multiple languages.

Despite the growing reliance on AI, experts caution that the technology is still in its infancy. Jaffe noted, "It’s not groundbreaking tech, but it’s a smart start. A next-level version would integrate predictive personalization and contextual tips based on user behavior, turning it into a true personal sous chef." This highlights the potential for further development within the Cooking Coach, as its creators plan to track user interactions to enhance its features in the future.

Furthermore, Hearst's lifestyle group GM, Ronak Patel, mentioned that the team is exploring additional AI capabilities, including a natural language search function that would help users find recipes based on dietary restrictions or specific ingredients. They are also considering a visual search feature that would allow users to identify potential recipes based on images of pantry contents.

As Hearst ventures deeper into AI integration, the Cooking Coach represents not only an innovative step for Delish but also a broader trend among publishers striving to compete in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The ongoing development of AI capabilities reflects the industry's recognition of the need to adapt and innovate to meet the changing demands of their audiences in an increasingly AI-driven world. The implications of such advancements could redefine how users interact with culinary content and how publishers engage with their audiences moving forward.