McDonald’s will stop testing AI to take drive-thru orders, for now

Nemeski@lemm.ee to Technology@lemmy.world – 512 points –
McDonald’s will stop testing AI to take drive-thru orders, for now
theverge.com
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Maybe it's just me, maybe I'm getting old. But I want to order through a person. Not a touchscreen and not AI.

I feel like society is slowly removing humans from our everyday interactions and I don't like it.

I like the touch screen ordering systems, but thats probably just because im autistic and find human interaction tough :p Im glad its an option, but it shouldnt be the only one for accessibility reasons.

I like touchscreens because I can spend more time getting my order right without wasting the cashier's time.

I don't want to talk to a cashier and have them explain the difference between a bacon sandwich supreme, and a bacon burger deluxe.

I don't want to confuse them by asking for extra veggies and watch them put it on the side.

I don't want to argue that I asked for two packs of ketchup and they gave me BBQ.

I want to add onions to my mcchicken and can't do that with the touchscreen :( literally not an option

It's fine when what you want is on the menu. But as soon as you have a question or need something a little bit off menu (hold the tomatoes, does that have nuts in it? I'm allergic, this food came out cold can I get another?) the glorified vending machine doesn't work.

The good machines (uncertain about McDonald's) let's you customize everything. Want three pickles? So it. Half mayo? Sure. No top bun? Live your life!b And it gives you ingredient listings.

And whose to say the minwage cashier even knows what's in the food? Not at all a insult, but in my area, many cashiers have English as their third/fourth language.

I love ordering through touch screens. No mis hearing and everything goes much quicker.

The added value of that human interaction for me personally is 0.

The kinds of places that get touchscreen kiosks often have teenagers taking your order who are not paid or trained enough to give any shits about any of it. The touchscreen saves both of you from doing the worst part of the whole process.

Adding onions to a mcchicken is impossible through a touchscreen. Can easily be done if I talked to a person

I mean if I really need onions on a mcchicken I can still order at the front but then I have to deal with trying to get my specialty order across, which is even more hassle. Mainly I want no salt on my fries and no sauce on my burger.

Trust me, you don't need that shit. Melted cheese is good sauce and the residual salt in the fries tray is plenty, and you'll get fresh fries every time.

I just don't want to talk to a robot. Not over the phone, not in a drive-through.

Sounds like a closeted robosexual to me. You don't need to deny it! I'd fuck a robot too. Maybe just the chick from Tron Legacy

I wouldn't do that, but I would change my lights from red to blue for her...

I wouldn't mind letting a "robot" do that kind of work. In a perfect world that would mean less work. In the real world it means they van fire some people and make even more money. But then again, i would never eat at McDonald's anyway, so it's hard to boycott

I prefer the touchscreen but not at the expense of somebody's job.

I'm kinda ok with a combination, like hey during the day run with mostly humans but at night supplement lack of staff when automation (so long as it's safe)

Agreed. It’s a manifestation of society’s collective acceptance that money > humans and all businesses should be expected to operate that way full speed ahead.

And unfortunately, it’s not just the businesses’ fault. Do we really think fast food consumers would reward the drive thru that adds a dollar to every burger so that your order is taken and cooked by real people?