Adding more A.I. to its digital smorgasbord, Food Network said it has introduced a new chatbot for Facebook Messenger that serves up recipes and “friendly one-on-one conversations.”
The net said the bot can help users menu suggestions while waiting in line at the grocery store, find seasonal picks from Food Network editors, or browse recipes from Food Network shows and chefs while on the go. Within the Messenger app, users can use the bot for more than 60,000 “trusted” Food Network recipes, the network said.
“More than ever, consumers rely on mobile to find ideas and inspiration around food – whether searching for a dinner idea, or simply because they’re in the store and see a specific ingredient on sale,” Liesel Kipp, vice president of product management for Scripps Networks Interactive, said in a statement, noting that the bot for Messenger is a “natural addition to our digital offerings.”
In September, Food Network launched a “skill” on Alexa-powered devices, such as the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Amazon Tap and Amazon Fire TV, that enables users to ask for and receive info about network shows, the network's schedule, and recipes that are featured on-air.
