McDonald's has decided to discontinue its automated drive-thru systems after encountering significant issues with its AI technology. This move comes after a collaboration with IBM, starting in 2021, aimed to streamline ordering processes but faced challenges.
The emergence of generative AI was predicted to destroy jobs in several sectors of the economy, including restaurant service.
As it happens, it's still not quite there.
As part of the conclusion of an IBM test period, McDonald's informed franchise operators on Thursday that it is eliminating AI order-taking equipment from more than 100 drive-thrus.
In a statement, a McDonald's representative verified the choice, stating that the technology was first made available to customers in 2021 when the fast food chain partnered with IBM worldwide.
McDonald's drive-thru menu. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
As part of the collaboration, IBM purchased McD Tech Labs, which McDonald's founded in 2019 after acquir...
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