Massimo Bottura on the future of food and creativity

What role might artificial intelligence play in making the perfect meal? How will AI transform food creation—and creation more generally? Massimo Bottura—legendary Italian chef and entrepreneur—joins Possible to talk about the future of food, human creativity, and how technology factors in. Massimo, Aria, and Reid discuss the roles of joy and innovation in fine dining, technology’s potential to enhance human connection, and Food for Soul, the nonprofit Massimo and his wife Lara created to turn surplus food into incredible community meals for people in need around the world.

Plus, Massimo reacts to a few AI surprises, including: Reid’s avatar speaking Italian; Pi’s predictions about restaurants of the future; and a customized copy of Reid’s book, Impromptu, that includes a personalized section for Massimo.

Read the transcript of this episode here: https://www.possible.fm/podcast/massimo/

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit: https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

Topics:
0:00 - Introduction of Massimo Bottura, chef, entrepreneur, and author
0:31 - A special AI Reid video clip for Massimo
1:20 - The importance of looking at the past creatively, not nostalgically
2:40 - Reid's Italian, and human connection through technology
3:36 - Massimo's background and passion for food, art, and music
5:26 - The role of technology in perfecting traditional dishes like pizza
7:09 - Story behind "Oops! I dropped the lemon tart"
9:21 - Joy, innovation, and community in dining experiences
10:32 - The significance of service in fine dining
12:39 - Combining poetry, art, and music with food at Casa Maria Luigia
16:25 - Reid's book "Impromptu" and Massimo's thoughts on AI in the kitchen
17:34 - The role of doubt in creativity and innovation
17:51 - Pi's vision for restaurants of the future with AI and technology
19:23 - Massimo's thoughts on robots and chefs in future kitchens
23:38 - Food for Soul project: origins, impact, and global reach
31:41 - Massimo and Lara’s book "Slow Food, Fast Cars"
33:06 - Experiencing the beauty of nature in Italy with David Beckham
35:06 - The importance of culture for the next generation of chefs and staff
38:35 - Rapid-fire questions: Massimo's optimism and vision for the future


Select mentions:
Food for Soul: https://www.foodforsoul.it/

Slow Food, Fast Cars by Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore: https://www.phaidon.com/store/cookboo...

Reid’s 2023 Bologna Business School commencement speech:    • You are Generation AI | 2023 Commencement ...  

Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.