McDonald’s acquires A.I. company to help automate the drive-thru, its third tech deal this year

CNBC ^ | September 10, 2019 | Amelia Licas

[C19fan]

McDonald’s said Tuesday it has agreed to acquire a company that is trying to automate the drive-thru. It’s the fast-food giant’s third tech-focused deal this year.

Apprente, a Silicon Valley company founded in 2017, uses artificial intelligence to understand drive-thru orders, which could cut down on service times. McDonald’s said the technology also could be used someday in its self-order kiosks and mobile app.

The Chicago-based company said it evaluated Apprente’s technology in McDonald’s test restaurants.

[backwoods-engineer]

Yep, $15 minimum wage will result in full automation of fast-food restaurants.

[Buckeye McFrog]

The system had better be thoroughly tested on Ebonics.
They don’t want any nasty charges of RAAAAAAACISM because the order was wrong.

[woodbutcher1963]

“special sauce” ???????????

[Buckeye McFrog]

Yep, $15 minimum wage will result in full automation of fast-food restaurants.

I know an engineer who was working on a project back in 2006 to develop a fully automation cook station for a big fast-food chain. He had been sworn to secrecy on their identity (I learned later that it was Wendy's). He ended up out of work in early 2009 when they pulled the plug on his project. I inferred from this that Wendy's was afraid that rolling these out might provoke The One and his followers after his Immaculation. So they cut and ran.

[fireman15]

If it works as well as the “AI” built into Android’s autocorrect, McDonalds is doomed.

[wally_bert]

McDowell’s would buy it.

[mjp]

Leftards don’t care if too high minimum wage causes increased unemployment. Big givernment can just raise taxes and provide guaranteed income and more welfare. Its all good.

[fireman15]

Carl’s Jr. Computer: Enjoy your EXTRA BIG ASS FRIES!

That is funny!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UWvBvKSkC_g

[chief lee runamok]

Way back in the day the joke was how whiners could be replaced with a live wire.

It's no longer a joke.

[dhs12345]

Lol. Good movie.

[Boogieman]

This guy is the ultimate beta tester:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhlUVyDBusg

[GnuThere]

Whether it’s drugs or cell phone addiction, I notice the attention span of drive-thru workers is about 0.1 seconds. They ask to take your order, which may only be 2 items, then you can count on having to repeat it twice. And getting no condiments.

[TheNext]

McDonalds AI Drive Thru:

AI: What is your Social Credit Score?

680.

AI: What is your Party?

Democrat.

AI: True or False. Obama is a God King?

No.

AI: Your order has been cancelled.

[elbook]

ever use one of their inside kiosks ???

they need to hire competant QA professionals or they just dont care

AND unless they return to their 1960 simple menu its going to be a fiasco (1 or 2 lanes will backup instantly and constantly - too many options and blockage by dullards )

[dfwgator]

That’s what makes In-N-Out burger so good, they keep it simple, although they do have a lot of off-menu options like “Protein-Style”

[SunkenCiv]

McDonald’s to Acquire Dynamic Yield, Will Use Decision Technology to Increase Personalization and Improve Customer Experience
March 25, 2019
Acquisition fast-tracks McDonald’s digital transformation
https://news.mcdonalds.com/news-releases/news-release-details/dynamic-yield-acquisition-release/

[Berosus]

I will support this move if they add a third window, attended by a human, to correct the mistakes so often made at a McDonald’s drive-thru.

[SunkenCiv]

:^)

[GOPJ]

McDonald’s has the worst employees in the industry. This might be a really smart move.