As a baker with an engineering background, I’m genuinely curious about new technology… specifically as it relates to the small baking business my wife and I have run for the last six years. As you may know, AI has been a hot topic recently with the public launch of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbot. So I decided to have a conversation with it, here’s how it went…

Me: What can you tell me about rise bake shoppe in mount joy?

ChatGPT: Rise Bake Shoppe is a popular bakery located in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. The bakery is known for its delicious and beautifully decorated cakes, cupcakes, and pastries. They also offer a variety of bread, cookies, and other baked goods.

Their menu includes a wide range of flavors and options, including gluten-free and vegan treats. The bakery uses high-quality, locally sourced ingredients in their baked goods. Rise Bake Shoppe also offers custom cake designs for weddings, birthdays, and other special occasions.

The bakery has received many positive reviews for their friendly service, fresh baked goods, and beautiful presentation. They are open from Wednesday to Sunday, and also offer online ordering for pickup or delivery. Overall, Rise Bake Shoppe is a must-visit bakery for anyone with a sweet tooth in the Mount Joy area.

My reaction: Not bad, althought it had a few things off. I thought it did a good job summarizing our product line and what we’re known for. I was impressed it spent some time ‘reading’ our reviews to see what sorts of things our customers say aboute us. Unfortunately, it got our hours of operation wrong. We have always been open Monday - Saturday, and always closed on Sundays. So I let it know…

Me: You are incorrect about when Rise Bake Shoppe is open. They are open Monday to Saturday.

ChatGPT: I apologize for the mistake in my previous response. You are correct that Rise Bake Shoppe is open Monday to Saturday, and closed on Sundays. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

My reaction: What a humble AI, quick to receive criticism and correct its mistake. If only humans were as responsive to feedback!

Me: Would you recommend Rise Bake Shoppe to a friend?

ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I cannot have preferences or make recommendations. However, based on the positive reviews and reputation of Rise Bake Shoppe, as well as their wide variety of baked goods and use of high-quality ingredients, it seems like it could be a great option for someone looking for a bakery in the Mount Joy area. Ultimately, it would be up to each individual to try it out and decide if they would recommend it to a friend.

My reaction: OK, that’s fair. An AI doesn’t have a sense of taste or smell, at least not yet, so it’s not in the best position to give a recommendation. Great self-awareness (I’m not sure if self-awareness is comforting or scary). Regardless, it did what most of us would do in the same situation, it crowd-sourced it’s response. Nice work ChatGPT.

Me: What is one area of improvement Rise Bake Shoppe could focus on?

ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I don't have access to the internal operations of Rise Bake Shoppe, and it's difficult to assess a specific area of improvement without more information. However, one common area of improvement for bakeries and food service businesses in general is customer service. Focusing on providing consistently friendly and helpful service can make a big difference in the overall experience of customers, and can help build a loyal customer base. This could include things like attentive listening to customer feedback, prompt and accurate order fulfillment, and clear communication about policies and procedures.

My reaction: If only the average business consultant would be this honest! Knowing where to improve is one of the most important and difficult questions any team or business can ask themselves. I appreciate that it focused on taking care of the customer - it’s one of our core values.

Me: Are there any current trends in baked goods we should keep in mind as we launch new products?

ChatGPT: Yes, there are several current trends in baked goods that could be worth considering when launching new products. Here are a few examples:

1. Healthier options: Many consumers are seeking out healthier options when it comes to baked goods. This could include items made with alternative flours (such as almond flour or coconut flour), reduced sugar or fat content, or ingredients with functional benefits (such as probiotics or antioxidants).

2. Plant-based and vegan options: As more people adopt plant-based or vegan diets, there is increasing demand for baked goods that cater to these dietary preferences. This could include items made without dairy or eggs, or using alternative ingredients such as aquafaba or coconut oil.

3. Specialty diets: In addition to vegan options, there is growing demand for baked goods that cater to other specialty diets, such as gluten-free, paleo, or keto.

4. Unique flavor combinations: Consumers are often drawn to baked goods that feature unique or unexpected flavor combinations. This could include items with savory-sweet flavor profiles, unusual spice blends, or unexpected ingredient combinations.

5. Sustainability: Many consumers are also seeking out baked goods that are produced in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly manner. This could include using locally-sourced ingredients, reducing packaging waste, or using renewable energy sources in production.

My reaction: Wow, we have some work to do. We have a few key product offerings that have been growing over the years, specifically gluten-free and vegan, but it looks like there is much more to explore in this area. What do you think? If any of these ideas appeal to you, would you let us know by emailing us at info@risebakeshoppe.com? We’d love to know what our customers are looking for!

Me: Thank you for your time.

ChatGPT: You're welcome! It was a pleasure assisting you. If you have any other questions or concerns in the future, don't hesitate to reach out. Have a great day!

My reaction: I’m personally impressed with how far AI has come in a relatively short span of time. The novelty of ChatGPT is it’s ability to use common language to present gathered information. Unlike Google, which leave it to users to browse through its searches to find the most relevant answers, ChatGPT does that work for you. Are there flaws to this approach? Absolutely. As I shared above, it got something as simple as our hours of operation wrong. But it was quick to correct itself, and I expect the technology will only improve over time.

Written by:

Tom Daly

Owner of Rise Bake Shoppe in Mount Joy, PA

and

ChatGPT

An AI Language Model by OpenAI