In this project, you will be involved in developing a chatbot that integrates the (already developed) Flavourspace API. Finding a good recipe that takes into account various constraints (e.g. taste, allergies, ingredients in fridge, etc) is cumbersome. Digital technologies offer many possibilities to improve food inspiration on the spot! We want to make that possible by integrating our Flavourspace engine into a chatbot that will help people on the fly to obtain the right recipes that are aligned to their constraints.
To develop the chatbot, we envision an iterative approach where we start with the very basics of integrating the bot (e.g. Facebook Messenger) with the Flavourspace engine & API. It could start with an ability to retrieve the "closest match" ingredient when sending one input ingredient like (e.g. "tomato"). The project can evolve into more complex Natural Language Processing (NLP) capabilities, extending the Flavourspace API to enable integrations with other data & functionalities within the engine or including a personal "profile" (through exchange with the bot) in order to enable the personalization. Our vision is that we start with the English recipe database (we have scraped both Dutch as well as English recipes).
Flavourspace aims to develop the world's best digital sous-chef. If you want to be part of this amazing journey, let us know!
You will be working closely with the company founder who has an MSc and a PhD in AI from UvA and a former TU-Delft Computer Engineer. Communication is possible in both English and Dutch.
Other team members involve a mix of Dutch guys and expats. You would be working in a dynamic environment of The Thinking Hut, a co-working space at the edge of Oosterpark in Amsterdam, where Flavourspace has an office. However, more flexible working arrangements are certainly possible as well (e.g. we meet only once a week in Amsterdam to align on the project while rest of the work happens from HVA / home)
Our expectations of the team that applies to this assignment:
- Python, PHP, Javascript programming skills
- Enthusiasm about data science & machine learning
- Enthusiasm about food
- Responsibility (a deal is a deal), discipline & independence (to avoid micro-management)
- Enjoyment of life (because we work hard, but only because we love it!)