Temporarily suspending AI testing to take orders at McDonald’s

If you’ve recently had a problem with your AI orders at McDonald’s, there’s good news: the program is temporarily closed. According to Restaurant Business magazine, McDonald’s has notified franchise stores that it will end its partnership with IBM on the automated voice ordering system “on or before July 26, 2024.”

More than 100 restaurants testing this technology will have their systems removed after McDonald’s partners with IBM in 2021. The specific reason for stopping cooperation with IBM has not yet been disclosed. However, McDonald’s said it is testing whether a voice ordering chatbot can help speed up the service process, and the test results lead them to believe that “a voice ordering solution will be a future part of the store system”.

One potential alternative could involve McDonald’s vague announcement of a deal with Google last December. Bloomberg reported that the deal partly involves a chatbot called “Ask Pickles” that employees can use to provide guidance on issues like cleaning ice cream machines. Google, though, is partnering with Wendy’s, which began testing automated ordering AI based on Google’s technology last year and has now expanded that test.

In general, fast food chains are very interested in AI technology. White Castle tested AI provided by voice recognition company SoundHound. Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s and several other chains use AI automated ordering chatbots, but according to US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, this system is largely run by remote employees. in the Philippines.

Regardless of what McDonald’s decides with automated ordering AI, it’s only part of an effort to automate jobs previously performed by humans. McDonald’s also offers other services like mobile ordering, in-store self-service kiosks, and is even testing drone delivery, kitchen robots and recruiting tools. HR using AI.