Introduction to AI-Generated Kitchen Hacks
Sometimes it’s a little embarrassing to ask mom if the bread belongs in the fridge or pantry. To avoid judgment, many of us resort to a quick Google search, but sometimes even our searches seem questionable. Luckily, thousands of videos featuring AI-generated fruits and vegetables are flooding our feeds, offering tips on their nutritional value and where best to store them.
The Rise of AI-Generated Content
"It’s like a cocomelon for adults," one viewer commented. The strangest thing is that adults actually listen. “The viral spread of AI-generated talking fruits and vegetables that teach kitchen hacks looks silly, but makes sense when you connect it to the way people absorb information,” said a media psychologist. Thousands of the AI-generated videos can be seen on TikTok, giving people advice for their kitchen needs.
Why Adults Listen to AI-Generated Characters
A typical Google search requires quite a bit of work and interviewing a real person is a bit difficult. "Real people, even friendly ones, trigger a certain social comparison: Do I know this yet? Should I know this? Am I behind? Cartoons and clearly non-human characters get around that," a media psychologist said. By using exaggerated facial expressions and a dose of attitude, these AI characters reduce “ego threat” when told what to do.
Practical Advice from AI-Generated Characters
The advice is practical. “I am Pasta, and please don’t add oil to the water,” pleaded an AI-generated Pasta. There’s also honey that desperately wants to be taken out of the fridge, a tomato that begs to be kept outside, and bread that complains about becoming rock hard in the fridge. “You have an attitude lmao,” one user commented on the video. "A cartoon vegetable can give advice (and even insult you) without threatening your ego, so it’s easier to follow," a media psychologist said.
The Future of AI-Generated Content
Some adults also want these videos to cover other life skills beyond the kitchen. "This should be a new kids show and then they should do one about filing taxes and starting a 401k," one user commented. It seems that the only way to get a modern adult to learn basic life skills is to have AI cartoon videos that are non-threatening and psychologically accessible. "While Google assumes that users know what to ask, want options, and are willing to evaluate sources, our brains are lazy, so we like to pay attention to something that reduces information to ‘good enough,’ which requires minimal judgment but is also entertaining," a media psychologist said.
