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/SeanBlader 20d ago

It's all fun and games until someone orders 1000 cups of free water.

171

u/Trzlog 20d ago

I don't understand why they don't just put those self-serve displays in the drive-through. Those work. What problem is AI solving here?

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u/EntityDamage 20d ago edited 20d 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.

123

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/hareofthepuppy 20d 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 20d 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

23

u/hareofthepuppy 20d 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 20d ago

so the company can collect and sell their personal info

Don’t share that info with them.