Beyond the AI Hype
https://www.ift.org/food-technology-magazine/beyond-the-ai-hype
Publish Date: 2026-06-12 10:51:00
Source Domain: www.ift.org
This interview is part of our extended Q&A series exploring AI and food safety.
As AI adoption grows, expectations for what these systems can do are not always aligned with reality. AI can identify patterns and highlight potential risk, but it cannot confirm contamination or replace human judgment. In this Q&A, Willette Crawford, owner and principal of Katalyst Consulting LLC, explains where the technology adds value and why validation and oversight are critical.
Where do you see AI generating measurable value in food plants?
AI is generating the most measurable value in areas where data is continuous, structured, and directly tied to decisions such as environmental monitoring, sanitation verification, and process control.
The real impact isn’t automation, it’s prioritization. AI helps teams recognize meaningful signals earlier and act before a loss of control occurs. In that way, it strengthens preventive controls by improving timing and consistency, rather than replacing the system itself.
Where does the hype around AI exceed the science?
The hype exceeds the science when AI is positioned as a detection tool rather than what it actually is: a pattern recognition system built on imperfect data. AI doesn’t detect pathogens; it interprets signals that may correlate with risk. Without strong data quality, context, and validation, it can create a false sense of precision.
So, the danger isn’t the technology itself—it’s overconfidence in what it can actually prove. The effectiveness of AI depends heavily on the quality of the data and the context in which the system is built.
The real impact isn’t automation—it’s prioritization, helping teams act before a loss of control occurs.
Willette Crawford
Katalyst…
