In a groundbreaking development, scientists at Pennsylvania State University have created an electronic AI tongue that can accurately differentiate between the popular sodas Coke and Pepsi. The paper published recently reveals that this advanced technology can benefit the food industry, especially in identification of toxic substances and preservation of food quality.
The electronic AI tongue is a unique creation that combines graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb pattern, with an AI neural network. The rendition of the human brain gustatory cortex which is responsible for taste perception has been logically designed by the researchers and the same has been used to identify different liquid compositions with a very high degree of mechanical accuracy.
Potential Applications in Food Safety
Beyond distinguishing between Coke and Pepsi, the electronic AI tongue has shown promising results in identifying the freshness and potential contaminants in food products. The device’s sensors can identify the presence of toxic substances, including PFAS or “forever chemicals,” which have recently raised a lot of concern.
“Although corrective actions exist for food adulteration and contamination incidents, monitoring food freshness is more challenging because of time-varying and complex chemical compositions present in food,” the study read, highlighting the potential for the electronic AI tongue to revolutionize food safety monitoring. “Stale food is toxic when taken and has a low nutritional value.”
Impressive Accuracy and Versatility
The electronic AI tongue boasts an impressive 80% overall accuracy in its findings, with even higher accuracy rates for specific products. The experiments show the 98 percent accuracy if a fruit juice is analyzed and the age of a fruit that was used to make it is detected with 99 percent accuracy.
This versatility is not limited only to sodas and fruit juices You may enjoy various types of beverages. The electronic AI tongue has also been tested on diluted milk, coffee blends, and other beverages, demonstrating its potential to become a valuable tool in the food and beverage industry.
Cost-Effective and Efficient Testing
Conventional procedures used in determination of food freshness as well as potential contaminants may be time consuming and expensive. The researchers behind the electronic AI tongue suggest that their creation could serve as a cost-effective platform for a wide range of chemical sensing applications in the food supply chain and beyond.
By streamlining the testing process and providing accurate results in real-time, the electronic AI tongue has the potential to significantly reduce the time and resources required for food safety monitoring. This could result in quicker determination of products which are contaminated thus reduce effect to the health of the populace and also less effects on the economy regarding foods that are recalled.
The Future of Food Safety
As the demand for safe, fresh, and high-quality food products continues to grow, the development of innovative technologies like the electronic AI tongue becomes increasingly important. AI-linked technologies and other innovative materials such as graphene are being used by researchers to lay the foundation for better and more effective food safety testing services.
While the electronic AI tongue is still in its early stages, its potential applications are vast and exciting. Future work and development of this technology are expected to be integrated by food manufacturers, food regulatory and other players in the entire food chain industry.
Final Thought
The creation of the electronic AI tongue by Penn State researchers marks a significant milestone in the field of food safety and quality control. This breakthrough gadget can revolutionise the way we check the freshness and safety of food and beverages and the ability to differentiate between various beverages and identify any contaminants that may be present defeats all rivals.
As the technology continues to evolve and improve, it is clear that the electronic AI tongue will play an increasingly important role in ensuring the safety and quality of the food we consume. Such advancements should be embraced to allow the future to enshrine healthier meals with little or no incidence of the foodborne diseases and recalls.
