Transforming Data into Solutions: Building a Smart App with Python and AI
Some financial analysts worry that artificial intelligence may not justify the massive investments being made in the field. While I understand their concerns, I see things differently. I'm neither an AI Boomer nor an AI Doomer – I believe AI has the potential to drive innovation, enhance productivity, and deliver measurable business outcomes.
In my last article, I explored how Large Language Models (LLMs) can be used to structure unstructured data. This time, I want to go a step further: demonstrating how the outcome of structuring data with LLMs can serve as the foundation for building intelligent applications. Thus showing how to integrate AI in a bigger picture.
In this article, I'll share how I used a modern stack to fast-track the development and deployment of Baker – a smart app which is the result of transforming a raw recipes dataset into an easy to use solution. This journey highlights more than just technical implementation; it showcases how AI can address practical challenges and deliver tangible value in real-world scenarios.
Baker: Your Cooking Muse
In The (lesser-known) rising application of LLMs, I mentioned that I needed a recipes dataset to work on a personal project. Now, it's time to reveal that project.
Managing food has always been a challenge for me. I struggle to find inspiration for meals, and as a result, I often let ingredients go to waste – something I've wanted to change for a long time. That's why I set out to create a recipe recommender system that helps me (and others) use up ingredients before they go stale. The solution? Baker, my prototype for tackling this issue. This project reflects my passion for leveraging AI to tackle everyday challenges like food waste.
Baker is an open-source web application in its early stages, built almost entirely in Python. The app takes a list of ingredients and their quantities – mimicking what you might find in your fridge and pantry – and suggests recipes you can prepare using those ingredients. It's designed to simplify meal preparation while encouraging smarter, more sustainable food choices. You can try the app yourself here:
However, you might want to read the remaining of the article first. In one of the next sections , I'll walk you through a demo of the application.
From Idea to POC: Accelerated Development with AI and Modern Tools
After the initial parsing of the dataset, I became busy with other duties and set this side project aside for months
