[snakeboy]

This feels like the same type of critique people have about code-assistant LLMs. We need to be a lot more realistic about their role as a 'next-gen autocomplete' who can write some boilerplate code, not a replacement for a mid-level software developer.

These apps seem useful to reduce the friction of entering your meal's calorie contents from 30 seconds of ingredient estimating, to 20 seconds (auto-filling main ingredients and a baseline portion estimate). As everyone points out, it's impossible for these to get any better than that (GIGO). But reducing the overhead for calorie-counting seems like a reasonable goal and a valuable service. Of course the marketing departments for these companies is going to say whatever bullshit they want; that's their prerogative...