Ask AI what goes with chicken and the answer depends on whether it learned from recipes or molecules

May 31, 2026

Nano Banana Pro prompted by THE DECODER

What goes with an ingredient? The answer depends on whether you're looking for a recipe companion or a flavor relative. Previous AI models have mixed the two. The startup Kaikaku.AI separates both perspectives in new research.

With "Epicure," Jakub Radzikowski and Josef Chen present three nearly identical AI models. They differ only in training data. The first model, "Cooc," only sees which ingredients appear together in real recipes. The second, "Chem," only sees which flavor molecules the ingredients share, drawing on the FlavorDB chemistry database. The third, "Core," blends both.

Each point represents an ingredient, with similar ingredients clustered together. The models were never told which cuisine an ingredient belongs to, yet they sort themselves into clear regional cuisine groups. | Image: Radzikowski & Chen