McDonald's turns to AI for drive-thru, inventory management, order accuracy

restaurantdive.com

3 points·ytNumbers··5 comments

There was a brand new McDonald's built near me recently. It's new so I went one day. It had a bunch of cameras pointed right at your face in the drive through at eye level. Since then I decided I'm never going back to that McDonald's.

Whatever the reason for them, I just don't find that a very nice experience. I find it disturbing that that interaction be filmed and I get absolutely nothing for it after paying 4 dollars for a potato.

This is how I feel about self-checkout with a monitor showing you’re on camera. I find it so uncomfortable that I never go back to those stores. I don’t enjoy being treated like a criminal.

Years ago a worker told me they aren’t actually hooked up to anything, just a camera hooked up to a screen. But that could change at any time without me knowing.

I'm not suprised, and honestly it makes sense. You don't have to deal with employees as the customer, and you can (mostly) be sure that your order will be taken correctly every time. We'll see how well it works, however.

white castle near me has AI at the drive thru

Traditionally, White Castle has not been concerned with order accuracy. McDonald's has. I'm thinking that's the seam that will give way in McD's quest to eliminate employees.

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