Bibingka Coffee from AI? If it’s good I’ll drink it.
In a team-up with Commune Coffee, Google Gemini AI recently created a unique Pinoy coffee for the coming Holiday season. It’s called the Special Bibingka Coffee Latte.
Yup, only an AI could think of a coffee drink flavored after a rice cake. It’s made up of espresso and steamed milk which is pretty standard. Then shreds of salted egg and queso de bola are sprinkled on top, much like our favorite bibingka. A torched banana leaf is then stuck into the cup to complete the Pinoy kakanin feel. But don’t eat the leaf, you can use it to mix the coffee or scoop up those tasty salted eggs and cheese.
Better hurry up if you want a sip of this Special Bibingka Coffee. Commune said it will be serving the Filipino-flavored special Bibingka Latte from September 12 to 26, 2024 only.
Google’s Gemini used to create Bibingka coffee and other unique drinks
This Special Bibingka Coffee Latte is a limited-edition coffee blend created using Gemini, Google’s generative AI. Gemini presented not just this coffee but several creative drink ideas to Commune’s baristas to develop their own masterpiece.
As part of the partnership, Google provided training on generative AI and Gemini to Commune Cafe staff, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to effectively harness Gemini.
Following the training, the staff also participated in a mini-workshop, where they were divided into groups and competed to put their knowledge into practice and explore the creative possibilities of Gemini within the cafe setting.
“Using Gemini for experimenting with concoctions was a lot of fun! It felt like having an extra brain in the room, ready to toss ideas around. It also streamlined our creative process significantly. Having access to Gemini’s vast knowledge made the whole process of making this Bibingka Coffee enjoyable and collaborative,” said Rosario “Ros” Juan, Chief Extractor of Coffee at Commune Cafe.
“We’re so excited to partner with Commune and bring the Special Bibingka Latte to coffee lovers across the city! This project is a celebration of the delicious possibilities that arise when human creativity and AI blend together. It’s also a tribute to the spirit of Filipino Christmas and the unique flavors of our local delicacies, like Bibingka, which we’re immensely proud to share with the world,” said Mervin Wenke, Head of Communications and Public Affairs at Google Philippines.
Located in the bustling neighbourhood of Poblacion, Makati, Commune is renowned for its high-quality coffee that’s fully sourced from the Philippines and inviting cafe atmosphere.
In June this year, Google also introduced the Google AI Essentials Course, a new AI upskilling initiative that is seen by pundits as a bold effort on the part of the company to stimulate economic growth and enhance digital skills across the archipelago.
As a leader in developing artificial intelligence (AI) tools, Google is expanding the reach of its AI courses through the online platform Coursera, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Additionally, Coursera is also maintaining academic integrity through a new suite of AI-powered tools that enhance assessment and grading processes, ensuring genuine learning and skill development.
This initiative is in response to a study by consulting firm Access Partnership, which highlighted that AI could contribute PHP 2.8 trillion (approximately US$50.7 billion) to the Philippine economy by 2030. In light of this, Google has intensified its efforts to make these courses widely available, aiming to upskill the workforce and embrace AI technology.
The program also involves collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to provide scholarships targeted at Filipino youth, job seekers, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), entrepreneurs, civil servants, and other key groups. This ensures that a diverse range of individuals across the country could benefit from the program.
Google’s mission, after all, is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. And for every other creative and productive endeavour, anyone can take Google Gemini for a spin at gemini.google.com.
