GabyAt the request of the publication DailyMail, the ubiquitous ChatGPT made predictions about global eating habits over the next half-century. The OpenAI chatbot forecast a mostly vegan future as millennials and members of Generation Z increasingly embrace vegetarianism and veganism.
ChatGPT used information gathered by the NPD Group, an American market-research company that conducted recent large-scale research on the topic.
ChatGPT’s co-author, food industry analyst Darren Seifer, noted that people, especially younger ones, are cooking at home more. Plant-based products are an important part of their repertoire. A record number of environmentally conscious Gen Zers and millennials are giving up meat in favor of plant-based foods.
In the near future, the food industry will need to offer consumers a wider variety of plant-based products and ingredients.
So what did ChatGPT predict?
After analyzing the analysts’ data, ChatGPT shared predictions about phasing out meat and dairy. It even outlined a plan for a global transition to veganism starting in 2024.
ChatGPT says that around 2027 the term “flexitarian” will become fashionable worldwide. It refers to people who mostly eat plant-based food but occasionally eat meat. The term was already popular in 2003, and the chatbot predicts a second wave of interest as more people shift toward plant-based diets.
In 2024, millennials and Gen Z will begin actively promoting vegan diets. By 2028, major food-tech companies will release a variety of plant-based meat alternatives and promote them on social media.
ChatGPT predicts that within a year, plant-based diets will rapidly gain popularity in North America and Europe.
By 2032, ChatGPT predicts a breakthrough in food technology, producing many more affordable plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products.
ChatGPT also forecasts a decline in traditional animal agriculture in some regions. Around 2037, governments in North America and Europe will introduce subsidies to support crop farming.
In 2048, the world will celebrate a new holiday: Climate Change and Veganism Day, supported by celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Natalie Portman.
By 2057, veganism will be widely accepted and normalized in many parts of the world.
In 2064, an international event called Global Vegan Week will be launched. By 2068, McDonald’s will introduce a McVegan menu, marking the start of the chain’s shift toward a fully vegan menu.
Looking ahead, ChatGPT predicts that by 2070 most people will consider veganism the norm. By 2073, it says, the world will be almost entirely vegan and animal husbandry will be seen as an anachronism.
This scenario suggests a major change in eating habits — but it’s impossible to predict the future with certainty, even for an AI like ChatGPT.
