We tested the government\u2019s official new AI nutrition tool: Grok
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How trustworthy is the new U.S. food pyramid? It\u2019s a mixed bag, according to the government website devoted to that pyramid.<\/p>\n
Kyle Diamantas, head of the Human Foods Program at the Food and Drug Administration, alerted the public this week to a generative artificial intelligence tool added to the government\u2019s \u201ctransformational\u201d realfood.gov<\/a> site. The tool, with a headline \u201cUse AI to get real answers about real food,\u201d features \u201cAI integration to provide parents and consumers with clear and concise answers at the click of a button,\u201d Diamantas wrote on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n It turns out that the click of a button leads users to Grok \u2014 the generative chatbot that\u2019s part of the X social media platform owned by former Trump administration adviser Elon Musk. Asked if the new food pyramid<\/a> is backed by high-quality research, Grok responds: \u201cMany nutrition scientists and organizations have raised concerns about the evidence quality and process for the final version.\u201d While the guidelines\u2019 recommendations on limiting added sugars and ultra-processed foods are backed by research, Grok says, \u201cthe emphasis on saturated fats and animal proteins contradicts longstanding evidence.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n That\u2019s a pretty accurate summary of the nutrition community\u2019s response<\/a> to the new guidelines and pyramid<\/a>, which features a prominent rib-eye steak and stick of butter along with less controversial items like broccoli, salmon, and olive oil. But in general, researchers are wary of the risks of turning to AI for nutrition advice.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the use of AI holds promise for providing tailored nutrition advice in a way that is convenient and low-cost,\u201d said Alyssa Moran, a nutrition policy researcher and epidemiologist at the University of Pennsylvania. But she notes that generative AI, just like human health care providers, tends to perpetuate stereotypes about eating and weight, such as stigmatizing obesity<\/a>. Overall, she said, the models need a lot more testing on how they answer nutrition questions before they\u2019re ready for widespread public use \u2014 \u201c[a]nd certainly before these tools are promoted by the government, which is supposed to be looking out for the public\u2019s health.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n