AOL review: This intelligent pellet smoker utilizes AI technology to cook meat to perfection without any manual intervention.

View pictures in App save up to 80% data.

View pictures in App save up to 80% data.

Artificial intelligence, often known as AI, is increasingly being integrated into various household items, enhancing their functionality and user-friendliness. While this technology has long been present in devices such as computers and smartphones, it is now making its way outdoors, particularly into our grilling equipment.

The Brisk It Origin 580 Smart Grill is one of the first AI-enabled grills on the market, and this WiFi-connected smoker can cook meat (and other foods) to your exact preferences, without you having to lift a finger. That means no more burnt brisket or overdone steak. It sounds too good to be true, so we tested it to find out if this “smart” grill is worth buying.

View pictures in App save up to 80% data.

The Brisk It Origin 580 is a pellet smoker crafted for low and slow cooking over extended durations. With a temperature range spanning from 165 to 500°F, it allows users to precisely set their desired cooking temperature using its digital controls, similar to how you would with an oven, distinguishing it from traditional gas or charcoal grills.

This grill features a generous cooking area of 580 square inches, comprising a primary grilling rack of 428 square inches and an additional 152-square-inch secondary rack. The hopper, designed for pellet storage and distribution, can accommodate up to 22 pounds of pellets at once. With its sturdy stainless steel build and powder-coated finish, the grill has a total weight of 135 pounds.

The Origin 580 is a modern take on traditional smokers. Equipped with WiFi capabilities, it allows you to adjust and keep an eye on cooking temperatures from afar using the Brisk It app, which also offers an extensive collection of recipes for you to explore. Taking innovation a notch higher, Brisk It boasts that the Origin 580 is the first grill powered by AI, utilizing generative AI and cooking automation to enhance your grilling experience.

I wish I were more skilled with tools, but I can confidently say that putting together the Origin 580 is quite simple. It comes disassembled — mine was delivered on a large pallet — but includes everything you need, such as tools and a comprehensive instruction manual that guides you through the entire assembly process. There are a number of parts to consider, from the grill's four legs to its separate handles and trays, but as long as you take your time, putting together your new grill is a hassle-free task.

To access the full capabilities of the Origin 580, you will need to download the Brisk It app and connect the smoker to your home’s WiFi. The app itself is incredibly useful, not just for controlling the smoker but for learning how to use it, as there’s an entire section of the app dedicated to tutorials. Even if you tend to be a bit old school when it comes to grilling, the Brisk It app stands out as an important accessory to this high-tech smoker.

Prior to placing your initial rack of ribs on the Origin 580, it's essential to season the smoker in order to eliminate any leftover oils or traces from the manufacturing phase. The accompanying app will assist you through this process, and after operating the grill for 30 minutes at a temperature of 400 degrees, you'll be all set to begin your cooking journey.

Artificial intelligence has become a popular topic of discussion recently, yet its applications vary significantly across different products. For the Origin 580, the smoker incorporates AI technology in a dual-faceted manner.

To start, you can utilize what Brisk It refers to as “Vera AI,” which allows you to request a personalized recipe for any dish you wish to prepare on the grill. It will provide you with detailed, sequential instructions to guide you through the cooking process, and you can modify them as necessary to meet your specific grilling objectives.

Additionally, regardless of whether you're using a standard recipe or one tailored to your preferences within the app, the smoker incorporates artificial intelligence to enhance your cooking journey. The Origin 580 can handle pre-cooking preparations, regulate its temperature autonomously, and alert you with notifications about the status of your meal. While you can always step in and make adjustments when needed, it’s impressive to have a smoker that can intelligently interpret cooking instructions and manage the process on its own.

View pictures in App save up to 80% data.

Let's cut to the chase: The Brisk It Origin 580 is the genuine article, simplifying the process of smoking meat into a straightforward, effortless experience.

When using a new smoker, I prefer to kick things off with a tri-tip. This cut is ideal because it doesn't require an entire day like brisket does, yet it can still be cooked slowly over a few hours. To assist me, I consulted Vera AI for a recipe suggestion; I simply input the desired internal temperature and the time I wanted the meal to be finished. After that, I let the AI-driven smoker handle the cooking.

I’ve had a WiFi-enabled Recteq Flagship XL smoker for over a year, and while I love it, I find myself constantly checking the app to make sure my meats aren’t cooking too fast or too slow, making little temperature adjustments to keep things progressing on time. The Origin 580, on the other hand, did all that for me. I instinctually checked the app several times, only to see the Brisk It smoker adjusting the temperature on the fly to keep my tri-tip on track to finish cooking at the time I specified.

I set the smoker to do its thing and headed to the gym for a workout. When I got back, the tri-tip had just hit the perfect temperature. After taking the meat off the grill, I let it rest for around 20 minutes before slicing into it, revealing a beautifully cooked medium tri-tip.

I usually reserve my smoking sessions for the weekends because I enjoy keeping a close eye on the meat to ensure everything turns out perfectly. Nevertheless, I tried this recipe on a weekday after work, and it turned out wonderfully. The more relaxed cooking method has opened up a world of culinary opportunities for me moving forward.

As I allowed Vera AI to craft a recipe for my tri-tip, I discovered that the Brisk It app featured an enticing coffee rub tri-tip recipe as well. This is just one of the many mouthwatering dishes available within the app—ranging from brisket and Korean beef short ribs to smoked queso dip, hatch chili cheeseburgers, and even pizza.

Every recipe comes with details such as preparation time, cooking duration, serving size, difficulty level, and suggested pellet flavor. Additionally, it outlines the necessary ingredients and equipment. When you're ready to begin grilling, simply tap the “Send to Grill” button in the app. The Origin 580 will take over, automatically adjusting the smoker to the correct temperature and determining the ideal temperature for your meat.

Feel free to stick with your favorite recipes, but if you're looking to explore new culinary creations, the Brisk It app has a wide variety of choices to enhance your cooking skills.

I really appreciate many features of my RecTeq smoker, but I must admit that its temperature probes feel a bit flimsy when monitoring my meat. In contrast, the Brisk It Origin 580 comes with two sturdier and more robust probes. While both options perform well in terms of temperature readings, the probes on the Origin 580 give me greater assurance regarding their precision and durability.

View pictures in App save up to 80% data.

While the size and weight may introduce some bias, the Reqteq Flagship XL stands out as an exceptionally sturdy smoker that exudes quality and resilience. I have no doubt that the Brisk It will deliver plenty of excellent cooking experiences, yet it pales in comparison to a powerhouse like the Reqteq — particularly after I inadvertently broke one of the handles on the Origin 580 while setting it up on my patio. Although the Origin 580 is competitively priced among smart pellet grills, it still comes with a hefty price tag, leading me to anticipate a more robust construction.

View pictures in App save up to 80% data.

If you’re new to smoking and want a grill that makes the process nearly foolproof, this AI-powered smoker may be a worthwhile addition to your backyard. Brisk It is already known for its solid smokers, which are easy to set up and let you monitor your grilling from a smartphone, and with its AI technology, the new Origin 580 can essentially be your personal sous chef, taking any residual guesswork out of the grilling experience. Plus, it’s more reasonably priced than many other smart pellet smokers, retailing for around $700. (For comparison, the Recteq Flagship XL is around $1,600.)

Although this grill is user-friendly and produces impressive results, I wish it were slightly more robust. Nonetheless, when you factor in its convenience, the Brisk It Origin 580 smoker stands out as a modern enhancement to the grilling experience, providing significant benefits for both beginners and experienced grill enthusiasts. If you're looking for a device that simplifies the smoking process, you might want to consider incorporating this innovative pellet grill into your outdoor cooking space.