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Artificial intelligence became completely enmeshed in our lives, and also in our kitchens. Each citizen is assigned a flavor-predictive algorithm, akin to culinary DNA, which logs every memory and taste linked to food from our earliest childhood. Since it perfectly understands our every culinary need, it can even anticipate our moods and instruct our cooking devices to prepare the most appropriate dish. Everything we need is recorded in a single database.

He had found a Nutri-Matic machine which had provided him with a plastic cup filled with a liquid that was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea.

The way it functions is very interesting. When the Drink button is pressed it makes an instant but highly detailed examination of the subject's taste buds, a spectroscopic analysis of the subject's metabolism and then sends tiny experimental signals down the neural pathways to the taste centers of the subject's brain to see what is likely to be well received.

However, no one knew quite why it does this because it then invariably delivers a cupful of liquid that is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea.