McDonalds removes AI drive-throughs after order errors - eviltoast
The voice recognition system seems not to have recognised what customers were really ordering.

McDonald’s is removing artificial intelligence (AI) powered ordering technology from its drive-through restaurants in the US, after customers shared its comical mishaps online.

A trial of the system, which was developed by IBM and uses voice recognition software to process orders, was announced in 2019.

It has not proved entirely reliable, however, resulting in viral videos of bizarre misinterpreted orders ranging from bacon-topped ice cream to hundreds of dollars’ worth of chicken nuggets.

    • kingthrillgore@lemmy.mlEnglish
      31·
      5 months ago

      …which is why I park first at the chain before I order. You right its a liability, but they’re gonna run out of options if they can’t afford someone to run the speaker, be it AI, someone in a call center, or the restaurant.

      • ripcord@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        5 months ago

        Why would they not be able to afford someone…? And run out of “options”…?

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      1·
      5 months ago

      Not if the car is stopped. Here’s how it should work:

      1. park in a “drive-thru” stall
      2. scan QR code specific to that stall (optional - connect to wifi at the stall)
      3. enter order through a simple webapp
      4. worker brings order out

      If you want to talk to someone, walk inside, no need for a drive-thru window at all. That’s basically how the old drive-ins worked, adjusted for modern tools.

      • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        5 months ago

        You know I am good with just getting my ass out of the car and walking a short distance to get my 4000 calorie meal. I am fine without implementing an entire protocol

        • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          1·
          5 months ago

          It’s the same as the order pickup they have, just with info about what stall you’re in. That’s really it, and it would allow eliminating the entire drive-thru experience, along with all the car idling and whatnot.