McDonald’s Ends AI Drive-Thru Test With IBM

McDonald’s Ends , AI Drive-Thru Test With IBM.
Fox News reports that McDonald's has decided to end its artificial intelligence drive-thru program. .
According to 'Restaurant Business,'
McDonald's Chief Restaurant Officer Mason Smoot said
the decision was made "after a thoughtful review.".
McDonald's has decided to end
our current partnership with IBM
on AOT [automated order taking]
and the technology will be shut
off in all restaurants currently testing
it no later than July 26, 2024, Mason Smoot, McDonald's Chief
Restaurant Officer, via Fox News.
The program, which started
in 2021, saw over 100 McDonald's
locations help test the new technology.
While there have been successes
to date, we feel there is an
opportunity to explore voice
ordering solutions more broadly, Mason Smoot, McDonald's Chief
Restaurant Officer, via Fox News.
According to Smoot, McDonald's will make
"an informed decision on a future voice
ordering solution by the end of the year." .
The goal of the test was
to determine if an automated
voice ordering solution could
simplify operations for crew
and create a faster, improved
experience for our fans, McDonald's statement, via Fox News.
The company echoed Smoot's sentiment in
a statement to Fox News, while also addressing
the future of AI programs at McDonald's.
After thoughtful review, McDonald’s
has decided to end our current global
partnership with IBM on AOT beyond
this year. IBM remains a trusted
partner and we will still utilize
many of their products
across our global system, McDonald's statement, via Fox News.
We see tremendous opportunity in
advancing our restaurant technology
and will continue to evaluate
long-term, scalable solutions that
will help us make an informed decision
on a future voice ordering solution
by the end of the year, McDonald's statement, via Fox News.
We see tremendous opportunity in
advancing our restaurant technology
and will continue to evaluate
long-term, scalable solutions that
will help us make an informed decision
on a future voice ordering solution
by the end of the year, McDonald's statement, via Fox News