Illustration created by DALL·E, an AI image generation tool, with concept input by Author

The vanilla vs. AI dilemma

Balancing authenticity and innovation

You know that rich, intoxicating aroma of natural vanilla bean? Growing up in the Caribbean with a love for baking, it’s a scent that’s etched in my memory. But if you have ever had the misfortune of using artificial vanilla essence, you’ll know it’s just not the same. Fast forward to Christmas in small-town Canada, where natural vanilla was scarce, and I found myself stuck with the artificial stuff for my holiday bakes. The difference? Like comparing a tropical beach to a snowstorm — one’s all depth and warmth, the other’s just…meh.

This whole dilemma also reminds me of the time my cousin visited from the Caribbean. In a burst of nostalgia, I handed her a carton of store-bought coconut water, thinking I was offering her a little taste of home. She took one sip, looked at me like I had lost my mind, and spat it out. “Never do that again,” she said. Point taken!

The Analogy