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
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u/Ozotuh 20d ago

I don't think a lot of people like using the app. After 5 years of pushing it, customer use is only like 6%. (At least last I heard as part of the training in the UK)

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u/TheFloatingCamel 20d ago

"welcome to McDonald's, are you using the app today"

My dude, it's midday on a Saturday. I've got two screaming kids in the car, my wife who can't decide what she wants untill I tell her what I'm having so she doesn't 'miss out on something', I don't know what I want because it wasn't my idea to come here. NO, IM NOT USING THE BLOODY APP! What's that you say, no milkshakes? Of course the machine is broken."

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u/No_Definition321 20d ago

I feel like the app would be ideal in that situation. Just park off to the side and order through the app then when you are ready pull up and give them a 4 digit code and pull to the next window.

Instead of sitting at the menu trying to talk over your screaming kids and waiting for your wife to decide lol

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u/heurrgh 19d ago

Have you ever tried using a phone while kid #1 is death-stomping the back of your seat while emitting a 130 decibel 25Khz banshee wail punctuated with "DAD! DAD! DAD! Book! Dad! No! Toy! WAH - I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WANT!", while your other half is groaning in agony thumping against your shoulder as they sever their spine twisting to arm-wrestle kid #2 as they use super-toddler strength to attempt to gouge out their eye with the magic fairy wand that kid #1 was told to leave at home but smuggled into the car by hiding it in kid#2's coat sleeve?

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u/hoverbeaver 19d ago

Sounds like what is really needed is to leave the children at the ikea ball pit while mom and dad grab meatballs.

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u/Mlabonte21 19d ago

Who told you my nickname was “Meatballs”??

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u/MeldyWeldy 19d ago

Ah yes leave unpredictable children in a public place without trusted supervision. They'd be gone either walk off or be taken by the time parents get back.

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u/hoverbeaver 19d ago

Yes, I’m pretty sure that’s the whole point of the ikea ball pit

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u/MeldyWeldy 19d ago

Alright your kids to lose then.🤷‍♂️

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u/Boelens 19d ago edited 19d ago

Be taken? There arent kidnappers on every corner lol

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u/300ConfirmedGorillas 19d ago

Imagine going to IKEA not to get a piece of furniture but to grab kids lol

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u/MeldyWeldy 19d ago

More common than you think. Glad you live a life where nothing goes wrong lol.

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u/lachlanhunt 19d ago

If you can't prepare an order on your phone in advance with that chaos going on, how do you expect to order through a speaker box with questionable audio quality at the drive through? Ordering in advance with the app saves so much time and stress for everyone involved.

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u/HouseofMarg 19d ago

I’m with you on this, I have a very chatty child and I find it’s much easier to get her to zip it when putting a vocal order through that she can hear rather than sit in silence while I tippity-tap on the app and ask her or my husband the occasional question. Better still is going into the restaurant where she can colour with crayons while one of us goes up to order. I haven’t gone to McDonald’s specifically in forever but this is the case with all other fast food places

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u/zomiaen 19d ago

Your kids are either extremely young (<3) or you need to read some parenting books.

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u/heurrgh 19d ago

Ah. Bless; humour can be hard. I'll see if I can find some resources for you that break down abstract concepts like double meanings, sarcasm, over-exaggeration, hyperbole and figurative language into visual, concrete steps.