GCP – Oviva builds AI meal logging app with Google Cloud

Monitoring food intake is a key factor in maintaining a balanced diet, but traditional documentation can be cumbersome and ineffective. Oviva set out to change this. That’s why we developed an AI-powered meal logging app that simplifies the meal logging process and enhances the quality of feedback people receive, helping them make better dietary decisions.

The challenges of effective meal logging

To receive actionable, personalized feedback on dietary habits, people need to document meals and accumulate data. However, traditional meal logging can be tedious and often lacks immediate or tangible feedback to help people stay motivated. Users often find themselves overwhelmed by complex nutritional data, which can lead to confusion. Our goal was to create a simpler, engaging, rewarding, and educational experience that encourages long-term adherence to healthy eating habits.

Exploring AI-driven benefits

To address these challenges, we leveraged the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform meal logging from a simple data entry task into a dynamic, interactive experience. Initially, we explored OpenAI’s services but ultimately found that Gemini and Vertex AI offered a more compelling solution for us due to several factors:

• Reliable GCP infrastructure: Google Cloud’s robust infrastructure ensured high availability and scalability for our application, which was a critical consideration for a user-facing app.

• Technical support and expertise: Google Cloud’s dedicated support team and comprehensive documentation provided invaluable assistance throughout our development journey.

• Beneficial pricing: Compared to OpenAI, Google Cloud’s competitive pricing model for Gemini and Vertex AI aligned better with our long-term cost platform strategy.

Our AI-powered solution

Our AI algorithms analyze the logged meals in near real-time, providing people with feedback that is not just specific and personalized but also easy to understand and act upon. This feedback focuses on helping people maintain a balanced diet throughout the day, rather than overwhelming them with detailed nutritional breakdowns.

Key Features of the app

• Personalized, actionable feedback: Our AI analyzes individual dietary patterns and provides feedback tailored to the person’s specific needs. For instance, if a user consistently logs meals low in protein, the system would suggest incorporating more lean meats or plant-based proteins, together with simple and accessible recipe suggestions. This feedback is immediate and contextual, allowing people to make continuously better decisions.

• Simplified user experience: Logging meals is now simpler and more intuitive. People can log their meals by snapping a photo or selecting from frequent meals, and our AI takes care of describing and analysing the meal in depth. The system also learns from user behavior, making future logging faster and more accurate.

• Integrated with daily goals: The AI-powered meal logging is integrated into goal tracking to keep an eye on behaviors. People can set goals, and the system will provide feedback on how well their meals align with these goals, reinforcing positive behavior and suggesting adjustments when necessary.

• Positive reinforcement through gamification: We’ve incorporated gamification elements, such as daily streaks, to make meal logging more sticky. People can also earn rewards for consistent logging and meeting dietary goals, which helps build long-term habits. This positive reinforcement is crucial for keeping users motivated and invested in their journey for a healthier self.

Key technical challenges to overcome

One of our main technical challenges was ensuring reliable AI performance during peak usage hours. Our app’s user base exhibits cyclical activity patterns, with meal logging concentrated around specific times. This behavior necessitates significant fluctuations in processing resources, sometimes requiring several orders of magnitude higher capacity. Low latencies and excellent availability have proven to be a reliable way to achieve our goals, without dedicating engineering resources to make our offering scalable.

The Impact on our users

Early feedback from our users indicates that the AI-powered meal logging feature is making a significant difference in how they approach their diets. People report feeling more confident in their food choices and more motivated to maintain healthy eating habits. The simplicity and immediacy of the feedback have also improved user retention, with more people consistently logging their meals over time.

As we continue to refine and enhance our AI capabilities, we plan to introduce even more personalized features. Future updates will include deeper integration with other metrics, such as physical activity and sleep patterns, to provide even more comprehensive dietary advice. Our vision is to create a holistic digital coach that supports people in every aspect of their journey to a healthier self.

The introduction of AI-powered meal logging, developed with the support of Google Cloud’s Gemini and Vertex AI, marks a significant step forward in our mission to improve people’s wellbeing through technology. By making meal logging easier, more engaging, and more informative, we are empowering people to take control of their diets and, ultimately, their health. We’re excited to see the positive impact this feature will have and look forward to continuing our work to make healthcare more personalized and effective for everyone.