Putting Our Computing Might to Good Work: Does AI Think a Burrito Is a Sandwich?

Tracy L. M. Norton, Associate Professor of Professional Practice at Louisiana State University's Paul M. Herbert Law Center, has run a very useful and up-to-the-moment comparison of the leading generative AI products. Given our continuing coverage of the burrito controversy, and our recent Contracts Stuff Vlog on using generative AI in teaching, this seems like content we ought to share.

Here are her findings, which are not intended as an endorsement of any product:

Comparing Different Generative AI Models

The world of generative AI gets more crowded with each passing season as existing models upgrade and new models enter the chat. This document is a quick comparison of how some popular models respond to the same prompt. It's not a deep technical analysis, just a fun way to see how they stack up against each other as of September 15, 2024.

For this experiment, we're looking at:

1. ChatGPT-4 (one of the most effective models even 6 months ago)
2. ChatGPT-4o (one of the most effective models until a few days ago)
3. Chat GPT-o1 and ChatGPT-o1 mini (OpenAI's newest models)
4. Claude 3.5 Sonnet (generally agreed to have better reasoning than ChatGPT-4o
5. Perplexity AI (integrates web searching)

To keep things simple and fair, we're using a single prompt for all models, and all responses were cut-and-paste with minimal additional formatting. 'Is a burrito a sandwich?

Read through to the end to see what adding integrated web searching does for the answers Perplexity gives.

ChatGPT-4

Image by DALL-E

A burrito isn't typically considered a sandwich. While both are portable meals that include fillings encased in a bread product, there are key differences:

1. Bread Type: Sandwiches use two slices of bread or a split roll, whereas a burrito uses a single, soft flour tortilla that's wrapped and enclosed.
2. Cultural Origins: Sandwiches have a broad and varied origin story, often linked back to Europe, while burritos are a traditional part of Mexican cuisine.
3. Preparation and Presentation: Sandwiches are generally open on the sides and can be customized with a variety of toppings visible from the outside. In contrast, burritos are fully enclosed with the ingredients not visible.

These distinctions generally keep burritos out of the sandwich category in culinary and cultural discussions.

Image by DALL-E

ChatGPT-4o

No, a burrito is not a sandwich. A burrito involves a tortilla wrapped around its fillings, while a sandwich typically consists of ingredients placed between two slices of bread or inside a split roll. Cultural, structural, and culinary distinctions keep them as separate categories of food.

ChatGPT-o1

The classification of a burrito as a sandwich is a subject of debate that touches on culinary definitions, legal interpretations, and cultural perceptions.

Definitions:

• Sandwich: Traditionally, a sandwich consists of ingredients like meat, cheese, or vegetables placed between two slices of bread or within a split roll or bun.
• Burrito: A burrito is a dish from Mexican cuisine that involves wrapping a flour tortilla around fillings such as beans, rice, meat, and cheese, fully enclosing the contents.

Arguments That a Burrito Is Not a Sandwich:

1. Structural Differences:
• Enclosure: Burritos are fully enclosed by the tortilla, whereas sandwiches are typically open on the sides.
• Bread vs. Tortilla: Sandwiches use leavened bread, while burritos use unleavened flatbread (tortilla).
2. Cultural and Culinary Distinctions:
• Burritos are part of Mexican cuisine and have distinct preparation methods and flavor profiles compared to sandwiches.
• The eating experience and customary accompaniments differ significantly.
3. Legal Precedents:
• In a 2006 Massachusetts court case, White City Shopping Center, LP v. PR Restaurants, LLC, a judge ruled that burritos are not sandwiches in a dispute over a non-compete clause in a lease agreement.

Arguments That a Burrito Could Be Considered a Sandwich:

1. Broad Definitions:
• Some definitions of a sandwich include any food where ingredients are "sandwiched" between or wrapped in bread or a bread-like substance.
• For tax or regulatory purposes, some jurisdictions categorize burritos along with sandwiches.
2. Functional Similarities:
• Both are handheld foods that can contain similar types of fillings like meats and vegetables.

Conclusion:

While a burrito shares some similarities with a sandwich—such as containing fillings and being handheld—the differences in ingredients, preparation, and cultural origins generally place it in a separate category. Most culinary experts and legal interpretations maintain that a burrito is not a sandwich. So, in common usage and culinary contexts, a burrito is considered its own distinct type of food.

Image by DALL-E

ChatGPT-01 mini

The question of whether a burrito qualifies as a sandwich is an interesting one that touches on definitions, cultural perspectives, and culinary classifications. Here's a comprehensive look at the topic:

Definitions

• Sandwich: Traditionally, a sandwich consists of one or more fillings (such as meat, cheese, vegetables) placed between two slices of bread, a split roll, or within a bun.
• Burrito: A burrito is a Mexican dish that involves a flour tortilla wrapped or folded around a variety of fillings, which can include beans, rice, meat, cheese, and vegetables. The tortilla is typically fully enclosed around the fillings.

Arguments Against a Burrito Being a Sandwich

1. Structural Differences:
• Enclosure: Burritos are usually fully wrapped and sealed, whereas sandwiches are generally open on the sides.
• Type of Bread: Burritos use flour tortillas, which are unleavened flatbreads, while sandwiches typically use leavened bread.
2. Cultural and Culinary Distinctions:
• Cuisine Origin: Burritos are a staple of Mexican cuisine with specific preparation methods and flavor profiles that distinguish them from sandwiches.
• Eating Experience: The way burritos are consumed and the typical accompaniments (like salsa, guacamole, or sour cream) differ from those of sandwiches.
3. Legal Precedents:
• In certain legal contexts, such as the 2006 Massachusetts court case White City Shopping Center, LP v. PR Restaurants, LLC, burritos were not classified as sandwiches, highlighting distinctions in business and regulatory settings.

Arguments That a Burrito Could Be Considered a Sandwich

1. Broad Definitions:
• Some definitions of a sandwich include any food where fillings are enclosed within some form of bread or bread-like substance, which could technically encompass burritos.
2. Functional Similarities:
• Both sandwiches and burritos are handheld, portable meals that contain various fillings, making them functionally similar as convenient food options.

Conclusion

While there are superficial similarities between burritos and sandwiches—such as containing fillings and being handheld—the differences in their structural composition, cultural origins, and culinary contexts generally place them in separate categories. Most culinary experts, cultural perspectives, and legal interpretations treat burritos as distinct from sandwiches. Therefore, in common usage and culinary contexts, a burrito is not considered a sandwich.

However, it's worth noting that definitions can vary, and in casual conversations or certain regulatory frameworks, the classification might differ. Ultimately, whether a burrito is labeled a sandwich can depend on the criteria and context being considered.

Claude 3.5 Sonnet

Image by DALL-E

This is a contentious question without a clear consensus. There are arguments on both sides:

Arguments for a burrito being a sandwich:

• It consists of fillings between or wrapped in bread/grain-based exterior
• Shares similarities with other wrapped sandwiches like gyros or wraps

Arguments against:

• Burritos use a single tortilla rather than separate pieces of bread
• Culturally and culinarily distinct from what's typically considered a sandwich

Ultimately, it depends on how strictly one defines "sandwich." Many food experts and culinary associations don't classify burritos as sandwiches, but there's room for debate. What's your view on this?

Thanks, Professor Norton!