The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Food Authenticity and Emotional Connections in Cooking

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) increasingly enters domestic kitchens from recipe generation to robotic chefs it raises questions about what may be lost beyond the efficiency it promises. This thesis investigates how AI impacts food authenticity and emotional connection in cooking, especially within cultures where food is deeply tied to memory, identity, and tradition. Combining a literature review with surveys and in-depth interviews across generational and cultural lines, this research examines how people perceive food prepared by AI. The findings reveal a nuanced landscape: younger generations tend to embrace AI as a tool for convenience and creativity, while older generations express skepticism, valuing the human presence, rituals, and stories that shape culinary meaning. AI is seen as competent in technique but lacking in emotional depth struggling to replicate the intention, care, and memory embedded in family recipes and festive meals. The thesis emphasizes that emotional fulfillment in food extends beyond taste. While AI may support functional aspects of cooking, it rarely creates the sensory or symbolic resonance associated with home-cooked meals. In doing so, it risks eroding the intergenerational transfer of food heritage and memory. This research contributes to broader discussions on AI in everyday life by centering emotion, culture, and storytelling. It calls for AI design that assists rather than replaces, and urges reflection on whether technological progress in the kitchen preserves cultural meaning or slowly replaces it with convenience.