New York Times tests AI feature to modify recipes in NYT Cooking

The New York Times is testing an AI feature in the NYT Cooking app that suggests ingredient and equipment substitutions, scales recipes to any number of servings and adapts the preparation. Genevieve Ko, a senior editor at NYT Cooking, says the tool can, for example, advise when to add spinach instead of kale because it wilts faster. Customized versions are private and cannot be published or shared through the app.

The feature is rolling out gradually and is currently available to all Cooking subscribers on iOS; broader availability will come soon. Readers criticized AI’s environmental impact and its effects on the app experience. Ko said there is no option to disable it for now, although using it is optional. A New York Times spokesperson told The Verge that closing comments after four days is standard practice. The company had already used AI for measurement conversions and serving-size adjustments.