French engineers launch Cheezam app that uses AI to identify different cheeses from a single photo 

There’s nothing more annoying than indulging in a delicious cheese board at a restaurant, only to forget what the varieties in front of you are.

But the days of scrambling to find the menu could be a thing of the past, thanks to a new app called Cheezam.

Cheezam was inspired by the music-finding app, Shazam, and uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify different cheeses from a single photo.

Cheezam was inspired by the music-finding app, Shazam, and uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify different cheeses from a single photo

Users simply snap a photo of a cheese they’d like to identify, and within seconds, a range of suggestions will pop up.  

The Cheezam app works by comparing photos against its database of 9,000 images of different cheeses.

It looks to identify key features, including the size and shape of the mould, and the way that any spots are arranged in the cheese.

Speaking to Liberation, Isabelle Mashola, CEO of Isahit, which annotated thousands of cheeses for the app, explained how the algorithm works.

‘Let’s take a Fourme d’Ambert and a blue cheese,’ she said.

‘For the algorithm to be able to determine the photo, it must be given indications which are supplied in the form of annotations.

‘On a blue cheese for example, we will notice that the spots are arranged in such a way.

‘The algorithm will then make the effort to recognise this feature by comparing it to other pre-annotated images.

‘And this is how we manage to refine the calculation to the right cheese.’

Cheezam’s answer will always be hypothetical and takes into account a margin of error, Ms Mashola added.

Alongside the answers, the app also gives users suggestions for pairing wines – ideal for a cheese and wine night 

For example, in response to a photo of a cheese with starry greenish spots, the app suggests there’s a 95 per cent chance it’s Fourme d’Ambert, and a five per cent chance it’s Bleu des Causses.

Alongside the answers, the app also gives users suggestions for pairing wines – ideal for a cheese and wine night!

At this early stage, Cheezam’s developers are encouraging users to point out any mistakes, so that they can improve the app.

Cheezam is currently only available in France, and it remains unclear, when or if it will roll out to cheese lovers worldwide.

However, it’s already been warmly received by cheese lovers on Twitter.

One user tweeted: ‘Can’t do more French tech than this. Shazam for cheese. Recommends wine to go with it.’

Another added: ‘You thought the US, or China, was leading in AI? France just produced an app that can instantly recognize any cheese.’

And one joked: ‘Quite possibly we have hit peak evolution.’