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McDonald's is to replace human servers with voice gen in its US drive-throughs

bbc.com

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Re: McDonald's is to replace human servers with voice gen in its US drive-throughs

#111

Post by stjohnswarts »

bluedino wrote: post #9
jsharf wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure when the last time you tried the assistant was, but Google's speech-to-text is getting ridiculously good. I think most of the time, it would be able to get even complicated orders correct. Anyways, I'm sure that for the 10% where it doesn't work, they can install an interactive touchscreen for correcting orders (or have an app). And for the 90% of the rest, they save a ton of money by having computers do…

Have you seen people order? I would shoot half the customers if I worked a fast food counter much less the drive through.

I am very concise with my orders, I know what I want when I pull up. Half the time they still get it wrong. I much prefer touch screens and smart phone apps for ordering.

Re: McDonald's is to replace human servers with voice gen in its US drive-throughs

#112

Post by stjohnswarts »

js2 wrote: post #103
tracker1 wrote: post #11

"Double Quarter Pounder, just the sandwich, only cheese, no bun. Two side salads no croutons, no dressing, two dip cups of ranch for nuggets. Large diet dr pepper, easy ice." Lets see if the AI can get that right more often than their staff can.

Oh, you're one of those. My parents never order what's on the menu. They've always got to customize it. Which is fine. But then they get all bent out of shape when the order isn't right. From a fast food joint. Can't you just order what's on the damn menu? :)

"Dad you're giving $4 for this meal, do not act like you're buying a $25 gourmet burger and hurry TFU"

Re: McDonald's is to replace human servers with voice gen in its US drive-throughs

#113

Post by castratikron »

hirundo wrote: post #15

Next they'll come for the cooks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKCVol2iWcc There are ~487k fast food cooks employed at ~$22.6k average wages. That's more than an $11 billion annual incentive to bring robochefs to retail. And that's just fast food, just in the US. Robo janitors may take a bit longer. Maybe they can design automated kitchens that work like jumbo dish washers. Seal, flood, heat, drain, reopen. The jan…

Robo janitors are closer than you think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3bgMyMQB9U

Re: McDonald's is to replace human servers with voice gen in its US drive-throughs

#114

Post by ilaksh »

zaroth wrote: post #85

Why would I order with my voice by yelling at a microphone outside my window? How stupid is that? Obviously I order on my smartphone and a creepy robot hand extends the bag to me as I drive by. The UWB radio in my phone will let them know which car is mine. Most of the time I’m ordering the same thing for my family of 4 (not at McDonalds , but you get the point) and so two taps later everything is ordered and paid fo…

McDonald's app is really convenient for ordering and paying. And they have coupons. I am a fan.

Re: McDonald's is to replace human servers with voice gen in its US drive-throughs

#115

Post by marcins »

arthurfm wrote: post #102
burgerzzz wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would avoid it just because of all of the various fingers that have touched it before me.

I don't like touching the screens either. https://metro.co.uk/2018/11/28/poo-found-on-every-mcdonalds-... Traces of faeces have been found on every single McDonald’s touchscreen swabbed in an investigation by metro.co.uk. Samples were taken from the new machines that have been rolled out at restaurants across the country – every one of them had coliforms. Senior lecturer in microbiology at London Metropolitan Univers…

> Traces of faeces have been found on every single McDonald’s touchscreen swabbed in an investigation by metro.co.uk. Samples were taken from the new machines that have been rolled out at restaurants across the country – every one of them had coliforms.

Did they swab the food bags and food that came out as well? Poo particles are probably everywhere.

Re: McDonald's is to replace human servers with voice gen in its US drive-throughs

#116

Post by all_blue_chucks »

p1necone wrote: post #39
tracker1 wrote: post #11

"Double Quarter Pounder, just the sandwich, only cheese, no bun. Two side salads no croutons, no dressing, two dip cups of ranch for nuggets. Large diet dr pepper, easy ice." Lets see if the AI can get that right more often than their staff can.

I don't think I could get that right, what does "only cheese" mean exactly?

It's just an order for gluten-free/keto burger and salad with no toppings other than cheese. Plus some tenders.

Re: McDonald's is to replace human servers with voice gen in its US drive-throughs

#117

Post by noitsnot »

bluedino wrote: post #28
cbdumas wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? I've seen touch screen ordering at McDonalds all over the place and most people seem to have no problem with it. Why do you think people avoid it?

We have those and they are slow. I wonder when they’ll put them in the drive through.

I can beat one customer and cashier most of the time. I'm just one person at lunch and know what I want. A customer will stand up there and make decisions and not have payment ready, etc.

Re: McDonald's is to replace human servers with voice gen in its US drive-throughs

#118

Post by milesward »

hirundo wrote: post #15

Next they'll come for the cooks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKCVol2iWcc There are ~487k fast food cooks employed at ~$22.6k average wages. That's more than an $11 billion annual incentive to bring robochefs to retail. And that's just fast food, just in the US. Robo janitors may take a bit longer. Maybe they can design automated kitchens that work like jumbo dish washers. Seal, flood, heat, drain, reopen. The jan…

Nope, they'll come for the managers first. See Manna by Marshall Brain

Re: McDonald's is to replace human servers with voice gen in its US drive-throughs

#119

Post by ilaksh »

Mountain_Skies wrote: post #21
bluedino wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you seen people order? I would shoot half the customers if I worked a fast food counter much less the drive through.

My first job was at Burger King. Working the drive thru was seen by most as a punishment. During the day it wasn't that bad but at night people were absolutely ridiculous in their behavior and expectations. It didn't help that many were drunk or under the influence of other intoxicants. Not sure how well automated systems would be able to deal with such situations. Maybe the customers simply couldn't order food unles…

Good point. Actually, why do they need a restaurant at all? Why not just a kitchen and a window that delivery people or robots go to get the food when its ready.

Although I think drone delivery could be more efficient. Even though you are flying, you are moving maybe 50 or 100 pounds instead of 2000 or 3000.

Re: McDonald's is to replace human servers with voice gen in its US drive-throughs

#120

Post by kadoban »

CamperBob2 wrote: post #31
RcouF1uZ4gsC wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My honest opinion is that after investing in AI and seeing it come up short time and again, over the next 10 years, businesses are going to run from anything that calls itself AI. I think we are going to have another “AI” winter.

I think AlphaGo put paid to that notion. It's real this time. It's all over but the scaling.

I'm picturing someone saying the same thing about Deep Blue a couple of decades ago.

Are we so sure it's that different this time around? Sure, current AI are better, but are they better enough?

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