From brainstorming to IFA Berlin

I’ve been working on an AI-powered food and wine pairing concept for AEG, helping people find wines that work with what they’re cooking—and understand why they work.

I’ve been lucky enough to lead the product work from those early brainstorming sessions through prototyping, experimentation, and product development. I also got very hands-on, building the first prototypes and development version myself. Turns out my engineering background still comes in handy!

Working at the intersection of AI and alcohol brings some interesting product challenges, particularly around responsible AI, safety, and navigating different markets.

At the start of September, the concept was demonstrated at the AEG/Electrolux booth at IFA Berlin, one of the world’s largest consumer electronics and home appliance shows, with around 240,000 visitors this year.

Seeing Germany’s Federal Minister for Digital Transformation, Dr. Karsten Wildberger, and Berlin’s Senator for Economic Affairs and Mayor, Franziska Giffey, checking it out was a particularly nice moment.

Big thanks to the whole team involved. I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing it in consumers’ hands in the near future.