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McDonald’s to employ AI at 43K locations to speed up service: ‘Technology solutions will alleviate the stress’
NY Post ^ | 03/06/2025 | Brooke Steinberg

Posted on 03/06/2025 7:29:58 AM PST by DFG

McDonald’s is the latest fast food restaurant to use artificial intelligence to step up its game.

The fast food giant is overhauling all 43,000 restaurants with an AI makeover in an attempt to cut wait times and make a better experience for both customers and employees.

Upgrades will start with internet-connected kitchen equipment, AI-enabled drive-throughs and AI-powered tools for managers to help make sure that orders are accurate and so restaurants can predict equipment issues before they shut down.

To accomplish this mission, the company tapped Google Cloud in late 2023 to implement more computing power in restaurants, allowing them to process and analyze data on-site. Known as edge computing, the setup is generally a faster and cheaper option than sending the data to the cloud.

Suppliers have already begun to install sensors on the equipment that will ultimately give the data to the system and allow employees to see how the restaurant is operating in real time.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Politics/Elections; Technical
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1 posted on 03/06/2025 7:29:58 AM PST by DFG
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To: DFG

AI = Average Intelligence


2 posted on 03/06/2025 7:32:40 AM PST by ComputerGuy ( )
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To: DFG

How will they teach AI to get my order wrong every time?


3 posted on 03/06/2025 7:32:52 AM PST by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
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To: DFG
and so restaurants can predict equipment issues before they shut down

They won't need AI to know that the shake machine always will be shut down.

4 posted on 03/06/2025 7:33:36 AM PST by Opinionated Blowhard (When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.)
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To: DFG

Ever see how Chik-Filet maintains efficiency and service? It ain’t AI. It’s people.


5 posted on 03/06/2025 7:34:48 AM PST by blackdog ((Z28.310) Be careful what you say. Your refrigerator may be listening & reporting you.)
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To: DFG

“You are an unfit mother!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d7SaO0JAHk


6 posted on 03/06/2025 7:35:02 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: DFG

Well good luck with that. I’d prefer they clean up the e. Coli in the food. Something I managed to acquire through their restaurants. Twice. Once last year, traveling through Nebraska. After recovery another bout from a large square state. Don’t eat their too often, doubt I’ll ever eat there again. They even screwed up my order the second time. Slow service. Expensive. Small portions. Not all that tasty any longer. Yeah, I deserve a break today, it ain’t gonna be at McDonalds


7 posted on 03/06/2025 7:36:30 AM PST by Freedom4US
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To: Larry Lucido

“How will they teach AI to get my order wrong every time?”

AI ordering at Wendy’s works great. I don’t understand why it is on at my store only about 20% of the time.


8 posted on 03/06/2025 7:37:10 AM PST by TexasGator (1.I'')
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To: DFG

Whose gonna smash my Big Macs flat now?.................


9 posted on 03/06/2025 7:38:04 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: DFG

The McDonald’s in my town is legendary for messing up orders, preparing food incorrectly, being out of things such as shakes and......hamburger patties needed for Quarter Pounders. I haven’t been in there for a long time so I might stop by after the tech upgrade to see if it had made any difference.


10 posted on 03/06/2025 7:39:25 AM PST by Southside_Chicago_Republican (God save the United States!)
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To: ComputerGuy

Gemini:

There are several reasons why people might make fun of AI:
* AI’s limitations and errors:
* AI, especially in its current state, can produce outputs that are factually incorrect, nonsensical, or hilariously off-target. These errors can be a source of amusement.
* AI’s struggle with nuances of language, humor, and common sense can lead to comical misunderstandings.
* The contrast between human and artificial intelligence:
* People often find humor in the contrast between the perceived intelligence of AI and its actual capabilities.
* The idea of a machine trying to mimic human behavior, but falling short, can be inherently funny.
* Fear and uncertainty:
* For some, making fun of AI can be a way to cope with anxieties about its potential impact on society.
* Humor can be a defense mechanism against the unknown and the potentially threatening.
* The “uncanny valley” effect:
* When AI or robots appear almost human, but not quite, they can evoke feelings of unease or even revulsion. This can sometimes manifest as mockery.
* AI’s lack of genuine understanding:
* AI can mimic creativity, but it lacks the genuine lived experience and emotional depth that drives human creativity. This difference can be made fun of.
Essentially, it’s a mix of finding genuine comedic moments in AI’s errors, and also using humor to deal with the complex feelings that arise from the rapid advancement of AI technology.


11 posted on 03/06/2025 7:41:42 AM PST by TexasGator (1.I'')
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To: blackdog

“ Ever see how Chik-Filet maintains efficiency and service? It ain’t AI. It’s people.”

It’s people, process, and technology.


12 posted on 03/06/2025 7:44:14 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz (Privatize the administrative state!)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

13 posted on 03/06/2025 7:45:57 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: blackdog
Ever see how Chik-Filet maintains efficiency and service? It ain’t AI. It’s people.

This

14 posted on 03/06/2025 7:47:18 AM PST by orlop9
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To: DFG

Customers bring in 99.9% of the stress and drama to the fast food experience.


15 posted on 03/06/2025 7:53:48 AM PST by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: blackdog

Zackly.


16 posted on 03/06/2025 7:54:06 AM PST by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: DFG
McDonald’s is the latest fast food restaurant to use artificial intelligence to step up its game.

It is being implemented in California to cut labor costs - such as California's mandated $20/hour minimum wage for burger flippers - soon to go up.

Two medium-sized McRib meals at McDonald's cost over $30 now - ordered from a kiosk only, no one was at the front counter.

Despite governor Newsom recently stating that "no jobs have been lost" in fast food due to the increase in the minimum wage, and, in fact, jobs are expanding:

California’s minimum wage increase led to job losses, higher prices: Study

A new study shows that California's minimum wage increase for fast-food workers led to job cuts, higher menu prices and increased automation. In April 2023, California raised the minimum wage for fast-food workers from $16.50 to $20 an hour.

Specifically, between June 2023 and June 2024, 10,700 fast-food jobs were lost, and menu prices rose by 14.5%. Meanwhile, nearly 89% of restaurant operators reduced employee hours and replaced labor with technology, as 35% cut employee benefits.

The study concluded that Californians are facing fewer job opportunities and higher food costs due to the wage hike.


17 posted on 03/06/2025 7:55:05 AM PST by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
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To: dfwgator

IDIOCRACY!
.
Don’t even Need the Link!


18 posted on 03/06/2025 7:55:52 AM PST by Big Red Badger (ALL Things Will be Revealed !)
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To: DFG

Can I get a soda with no ice ?


19 posted on 03/06/2025 7:56:33 AM PST by 11th_VA
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To: DFG

Ooooh, a “better experience”.. Ooooh!.

Kinda like WWW sites claim you will have a better experience if you download their tracking app. Y’know, the one that steals your data and peddles it to arseoles in eastern Europe.

Ooooh. Guess I’ll stick with BKing.


20 posted on 03/06/2025 7:58:33 AM PST by bobbo666
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