Article in The Times of Israel by Andy Blumenthal: So what do love, food, and artificial intelligence (AI) have to do with each other? Well, in this case, I have a number of special anecdotes from this week about getting some behind-the-scenes insight from others on all three topics.

1. 7/9/23, 7:28 AM A Tale of Love, Food, and AI | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-tale-of-love-food-and-ai/ 1/6
THE BLOGS
Andy Blumenthal
Leadership With Heart
A Tale of Love, Food,
and AI
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2. 7/9/23, 7:28 AM A Tale of Love, Food, and AI | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-tale-of-love-food-and-ai/ 2/6
Credit Photo: Artem Podrez via https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-eating-unhealthy-food-4728849/
So what do love, food, and artificial intelligence (AI) have to do with each other?
Well, in this case, I have a number of special anecdotes from this week about
getting some behind-the-scenes insight from others on all three topics.
Showing Her Love Discreetly.
There is an impressive elderly Jewish man, going on 90 years old, who swims
almost every day in the same pool as me. However, for the last number of weeks,
he has been a no-show. Of course, I was worried about him, inquired after him,
and was glad when I finally saw him again this week.
I asked if he was okay, and he mentioned he had been on some travels but also
hadn’t been well. Despite being a regular swimmer for many years, I could tell
he was concerned about coming back to the pool in his current state of health. I
reassured him that, with his inner strength and determination, he was going to
get right back to it. As I said, “It’s like riding a bike; you never forget.”

3. 7/9/23, 7:28 AM A Tale of Love, Food, and AI | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-tale-of-love-food-and-ai/ 3/6
Once in the pool, I could see him struggling a little, especially catching his
breath between laps. I was worried that nothing bad should happen to him, and
I was sort of keeping an eye on him. But then, with the other eye, I noticed an
elderly lady leaning up and behind one of the poles, looking in. At first, I
thought she was waiting for someone, but with every lap, I could see her peering
out for a split second from behind the pole and then ducking back behind it.
Then I realized that this lady was the other man’s wife, who was obviously
worried about him going back to the pool and was watching discreetly to make
sure he was okay without him seeing her. Honestly, it was so sweet to see her
eyes snap a quick glance over at him and then go back to hiding again so he
wouldn’t know that she was there watching out for him.
To me, it was a lesson in true love. At any age, it’s not about what you say to the
other person, but what you actually do that truly says, I love you!
Watch Out for the Meat on Sale.
Recently, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that about 40% of packaged foods
in America are certified kosher. That is amazing considering only about 2% of
the U.S. population is Jewish, and only a small minority of that population
maintains kosher dietary laws.
But in that context, after synagogue today, I received some friendly advice from
one of my friends on shopping for kosher meat.
First, he starts out by saying that he was up in Baltimore recently at the kosher
butcher and got some awesome ribeye steaks. Then, shaking his head, he warns
me about buying the steaks at another kosher market that are on sale. He says:

4. 7/9/23, 7:28 AM A Tale of Love, Food, and AI | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-tale-of-love-food-and-ai/ 4/6
Innocently, I ask why not and whether he had a bad experience or something. He
responds:
I was intrigued to learn more, and I asked how he knew that. He tells me:
Uh, I’m laughing to myself as this meat-eating experience rings a bell. I think I
know what he’s talking about. I guess there is a reason the other steaks are like
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You know the steaks for $11.99; don’t buy them. ”
“
There is a reason that they are on sale: they are from an old cow! ”
“
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You know Goodyear? It’s like eating a Goodyear tire. ”
“

5. 7/9/23, 7:28 AM A Tale of Love, Food, and AI | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-tale-of-love-food-and-ai/ 5/6
$17.99 per pound.
Aside from the meat tips for the day, another fellow then chimes in and says:
Sure enough, I checked after Shabbat online, and I did find that general advice
for shopping for fresh produce.
So while kosher is the foundation for any Jewish food shopping, I felt that I got
two other great food shopping tips over one Shabbat kiddush lunch today.
Let the AI Do the Trading.
Earlier in the week, I was chatting with another Jewish friend. And amidst lots of
interesting conversation, he mentions that his brother has gotten into day-
trading stocks.
Always eager to learn how folks actually make money on the roller coaster
market, I asked him what his brother’s secret was to successfully managing his
portfolio with artificial intelligence. To this, he responds:
Being very interested in AI myself and the myriad of applications for both
industry and government, I was still surprised that anyone would let AI, in its
infancy, actually manage their investment money on autopilot.
The funny thing was that my wife had told me to do the same thing, but this was
the first I’d heard about an actual investor who was doing it successfully. Who
knows? Maybe this is the next big investment wave of the future.
Hey, if you go to the grocery store, go on Tuesday or Wednesday, because
that’s when I heard that they have the freshest produce! ”
“
Oh, he used to research the stocks, but now with artificial intelligence, he just
lets the AI bot do the trading for him. ”
“

6. 7/9/23, 7:28 AM A Tale of Love, Food, and AI | Andy Blumenthal | The Blogs
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-tale-of-love-food-and-ai/ 6/6
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andy Blumenthal is a dynamic, award-winning leader who writes frequently about Jewish life,
culture, and security. All opinions are his own.
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