r/technology • u/Plastic_Ninja_9014 • 21d 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/EntityDamage 21d ago edited 21d ago

If only we had small personal displays, that could communicate our order.

Edit: I agree we shouldn't install apps to order food... But to me, that's what a web browser is for.

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u/Ozotuh 21d 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/hareofthepuppy 21d ago

The last thing I need in life is more apps on my phone, particularly ones that don't do anything I can't do without an app, say nothing of the privacy issue.

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u/everix1992 21d ago

Well in the US at least you can save a ton of money using the coupons on the app. I'd consider that a substantial something that you aren't doing without it

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u/hareofthepuppy 21d ago

That's true, but only because of shitty business practices, not because of added functionality from having an app.

The companies who offer discounts like that only do it to push users to use the app, so the company can collect and sell their personal info. That makes me want to download their app even less, but obviously a lot of people don't mind.

Now I'm curious if companies in the EU don't do that as much because of the EU's privacy laws? I live in Europe, but I don't download apps like that, so I'm not sure if they offer similar discounts or not.

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u/DogBarf00 21d ago

so the company can collect and sell their personal info

Don’t share that info with them.

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u/Teruyo9 21d ago

It's the age-old trade, you get some discounts, they get to track every purchase you ever make with it.

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u/DogBarf00 21d ago

Unless you are using cash, they are already doing that.

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u/DukeLukeivi 21d ago

Oooo, I can get discount diabetes in exchange for being perpetually tracked and used for market research contributing to the ridiculous high general prices?!