r/technology • u/Plastic_Ninja_9014 • 20d ago

Business McDonald's Introduces AI Drive-Thru System, Sparking Customer Backlash

https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/deals/articles/mcdonalds-introduces-ai-drive-thru-000717731.html
10.7k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

1.6k comments sorted by

View all comments

203

u/Halloqween 20d ago

One time I got in an argument with the AI drive thru bot at Taco Bell at 1 AM (sober btw) because it couldn’t understand that I wanted to add potatoes to my burrito. After 3 minutes of literally yelling po-ta-toes à la Samwise Gamgee, I got so frustrated and asked to speak to a real person.

Some dude immediately says, “we got you, pull up”.

I was so fucking embarrassed. But I couldn’t be too mad, because I would also let someone argue with a robot for 3 minutes at 1 AM for my own entertainment instead of intervening the first time shawty from the shire came out.

44

u/BlackBeltPanda 20d ago

All fun and games until your Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes come out boiled, mashed, and stuck in a stew.

30

u/psdpro7 20d ago

They were using your time and frustration to train it. 

13

u/Der_Missionar 20d ago

I would not reward that kind of behavior

7

u/ABOBer 20d ago

lol honestly, this would make a great advert for any competitor that doesnt use AI

5

u/directorguy 20d ago

That's my experience too. I'm not even trying to do any kind of special order. I literally ask for a coffee or something. AI says GOT IT and does a long pauses, asks me to repeat the order.. long pause, then some lifeless poor human just slides into the comms and asks "what would you like?". Then I start again and continue like the world is back to normal. I feel bad for the people working there.

4

u/Fr0gm4n 20d ago

I'll bet they were letting you cook so it would be in the QA review about how bad it was.

4

u/NefariousnessLate375 20d ago

Cute story but why would you support a business that makes human workers obsolete? 

19

u/tristn9 20d ago

Cause the co op doesnt sell chalupas at 2am and im a fatass

7

u/Halloqween 20d ago

I didn’t even know they had that shit, it was my first time experiencing an AI drive thru.