Did Coca-Cola just use AI to create the ultimate soft drink?

As expected, Coca-Cola has also jumped on the artificial intelligence (AI) bandwagon with the launch of a beverage apparently created to be the drink of the future… as seen by artificial intelligence itself.

Named Y3000, Coca-Cola’s limited-edition beverage has a “futuristic flavor” designed from customer feedback. Oh, and with the help of AI. Because in these news stories, there’s always a catch.

According to a press release, the company asked Coca-Cola consumers from around the world to share how they “imagine the future through emotions, aspirations, colors, flavors, and much more.” Whatever that means.

AI and thousands of consumers to create the beverage of the future

After combining the myriad of perspectives with “ideas gathered from AI,” Coca-Cola said it was able to create the unique flavor of Y3000.

“We hope that Coca-Cola remains as relevant and refreshing in the year 3000 as it is today, so we challenged ourselves to explore the concept of what a Coca-Cola from the future might taste like,” said Oana Vlad, an executive at the company.

To achieve this, they explained, “we intentionally brought together human intelligence and AI to achieve an uplifting expression of what Coca-Cola believes the future will bring.” We’ll have to see about that.

The sugar-free beverage will be available for a limited time in certain markets, including the United States, Canada, China, Europe, and Africa.

The first ever Coke co-created by AI is here. Taste the bright, fruity taste of Coca-Cola Y3000 ? #CocaColaCreations pic.twitter.com/B3taG09ut2

— Coca-Cola (@CocaCola) September 12, 2023

In their marketing jargon, Coca-Cola claims that the design of the can for the beverage, which also involved AI in the process, “shows the liquid in a state of transformation and evolution, communicated through changes in shape and color that emphasize a positive future.” And it goes on, but we’ll spare you the rest.

Coca-Cola isn’t the first food and beverage company to enter the game. Earlier this year, Campbell Soup declared that they used AI to create their “Chunky Ghost Pepper Chicken Noodle” soup, while the Japanese beverage giant Sapporo stated that AI helps them create new beverages in half the usual time.