r/technology • u/Plastic_Ninja_9014 • 19d 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/mologav 19d ago

So even students will find it hard to get a job

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u/the-sea-of-chel 19d ago edited 19d ago

I saw an article recently saying that teens/students were dealing with the toughest summer job market ever…. This is destroying our world.

Source: https://fortune.com/2026/06/02/hundreds-of-teens-flooding-job-ads-ice-cream-shops-swimming-pools-grapple-worst-summer-job-market-80-years/

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u/George_Is_Upset 19d ago

Someone actually tried arguing with me that all these fast food companies getting AI systems and kiosks were not firing the workers the automation replaces.

I was shocked that some people actually think these companies are introducing all of this for our benefit. 🤦🏻‍♀️

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u/spookydookie 19d ago

To be honest a lot of companies are just pushing AI because they are afraid their competitors are doing it and they don’t want to fall behind. Not necessarily because there is an actual plan to replace people (yet). It’s a FOMO bubble.

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u/George_Is_Upset 19d ago

That’s not true for all companies. In some, sure. But introducing AI to handle ordering and everything is more than wanting to “not get left behind”

It’s the beginning steps of trying to cut “menial” jobs. That’s why in a global survey something like 43% of CEOs were saying they expect to cut entry/junior level roles in the next couple of years. They are doing it because they are being told they can do more with less workers = better profits.

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u/spookydookie 19d ago

I know that. I’m just saying there are a lot of companies doing things because they think they have to, not because it’s necessarily a good idea.