Would you like fries with your AI?


 

Next time you pull up to the drive-thru, if it sounds a little like you’re talking to a robot, you might be. McDonald’s has been working hard to make their drive-thru business more efficient, and AI order takers are part of the plan. Why? Because AI never forgets to greet you politely, it listens more accurately than people do, and (of course) it never loses its temper or gets offended.

Drive-thru has always been a big part of McDonald’s business; you can drive-thru in more than 95 percent of their U.S. locations. Will this AI take people’s jobs? Not in this case, as people still have to prepare and bag the food. Will you be comfortable with talking to a McAlexa or McSiri? That’s a bigger question.

Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it.

About Shelly Palmer

Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.

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