Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

McDonald's gives its restaurants an AI makeover

wsj.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

121–130 of 142 posts

Re: McDonald's gives its restaurants an AI makeover

#121

Post by anon373839 »

Clamchop wrote: post #80
anon373839 wrote: post #21

I don't understand how McDonalds is still relevant outside of food deserts. The food quality is trash, and the prices are so high that you can and should just go elsewhere and buy real food.

I see this sort of remark every time McDonald's comes up and I always wonder why it doesn't prompt people to check their assumptions. Clearly they are doing well enough so you're missing something.

Seeing as how the remark begins with “I don’t understand how…” it seems you’re the one with unchecked assumptions: namely, about what the text actually says.

Re: McDonald's gives its restaurants an AI makeover

#122

Post by borgdefenser »

Larrikin wrote: post #28

In my area, I can pay about five dollars more and get an equivalent meal from Five Guys. Why would I ever go to McDonald's when I can get a meal that I actually taste good. Especially something that should not be eaten that often.

You are just so sophisticated. I would consider starting a podcast honestly.

Re: McDonald's gives its restaurants an AI makeover

#123

Post by Spivak »

autoexec wrote: post #103
m463 wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Come on, they won't raise prices if you have more money. (they will just have high prices, and lower them until less wealthy can buy)

They absolutely will. The problem with just setting a high price is that they'd be leaving money on the table whenever anyone who could afford even higher prices comes through. That's what they want to eliminate. Even if you aren't earning more money the algorithm will constantly be testing you by jacking up prices to see what you'll endure under which circumstances. Screaming kids in the car with you? You'll probabl…

Look, I'm all excited over the incoming cyberpunk dystopia but no they won't be able to do this. They still have posted menu prices and folks will be pissed if prices ever go up from what they're expecting to pay.

Re: McDonald's gives its restaurants an AI makeover

#124

Post by WeylandYutani »

anon373839 wrote: post #21

I don't understand how McDonalds is still relevant outside of food deserts. The food quality is trash, and the prices are so high that you can and should just go elsewhere and buy real food.

McDonald's was always a middle class thing. It was never for the poor.

Re: McDonald's gives its restaurants an AI makeover

#125

Post by xpl »

Spivak wrote: post #123
autoexec wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They absolutely will. The problem with just setting a high price is that they'd be leaving money on the table whenever anyone who could afford even higher prices comes through. That's what they want to eliminate. Even if you aren't earning more money the algorithm will constantly be testing you by jacking up prices to see what you'll endure under which circumstances. Screaming kids in the car with you? You'll probabl…

Look, I'm all excited over the incoming cyberpunk dystopia but no they won't be able to do this. They still have posted menu prices and folks will be pissed if prices ever go up from what they're expecting to pay.

They would probably be able to do it if the listed prices were fixed, but they provided a personalized discount that would vary depending on who you are.

Re: McDonald's gives its restaurants an AI makeover

#126

Post by baumy »

anon373839 wrote: post #121
Clamchop wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see this sort of remark every time McDonald's comes up and I always wonder why it doesn't prompt people to check their assumptions. Clearly they are doing well enough so you're missing something.

Seeing as how the remark begins with “I don’t understand how…” it seems you’re the one with unchecked assumptions: namely, about what the text actually says.

No, I don't think that's fair. There are 2 assumptions in your comment which I think the poster you're replying to is suggesting you should reevaluate:

> The food quality is trash, and the prices are so high

If these assumptions are true, it makes sense why you wouldn't understand why McDonalds is relevant / successful.

I do not think these assumptions are true. The food quality is fine - it's somewhere between palatable and mildly tasty for most people. If you use their app, the prices are lower than most other places you could get the same number of calories + protein content.

The food is also very consistent. I've surely gone to at least 20 different McDonalds locations in my life all over the USA, and it tastes pretty much the same every time. I can't say the same for most of their competitors.

Re: McDonald's gives its restaurants an AI makeover

#127

Post by anon373839 »

baumy wrote: post #126
anon373839 wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seeing as how the remark begins with “I don’t understand how…” it seems you’re the one with unchecked assumptions: namely, about what the text actually says.

No, I don't think that's fair. There are 2 assumptions in your comment which I think the poster you're replying to is suggesting you should reevaluate: > The food quality is trash, and the prices are so high If these assumptions are true, it makes sense why you wouldn't understand why McDonalds is relevant / successful. I do not think these assumptions are true. The food quality is fine - it's somewhere between palat…

But those aren't assumptions: they're statements of personal opinion.

> If you use their app, the prices are lower

Now, that's an interesting data point. I am very app-resistant. It's definitely possible that regulars aren't paying the prices I am seeing.

> The food is also very consistent.

This is so surprising to read! In my experience, this was true 1-2 decades ago, but no longer. I actually do crave "good McDonalds" on occasion, but it's so hard to come by that I rarely bother. Even in the EU, where McD's has always tried harder, I now see the same deterioration and neglect.

Re: McDonald's gives its restaurants an AI makeover

#128

Post by TylerE »

ergocoder wrote: post #74
Larrikin wrote: post #28

In my area, I can pay about five dollars more and get an equivalent meal from Five Guys. Why would I ever go to McDonald's when I can get a meal that I actually taste good. Especially something that should not be eaten that often.

Maybe you like Five Guys. Some people do, but a lot of people don't. That's why Five Guys stay tiny as it is today...

Almost 2000 stores in 24 countries is not by any objective measure "tiny".

Re: McDonald's gives its restaurants an AI makeover

#129

Post by antifa »

tstrimple wrote: post #94
yk wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Known quantity, especially when I'm travelling I go there because I know that I get kinda consistent quality without having to think.

I wish this was still the case, but in my experience the differences between individual fast food joints is enormous. We've got one Taco Bell in town for example which is known to take 10+ minutes per car and they constantly screw up orders. This usually shows up as a 1 star fast food restaurant rather than the more common 2-3 stars on review sites. For me the tell is their soda. My guilty McDonald's pleasure is thei…

McDonald's seems to recently have really bad soda at increasingly close to all restaurants in my general area, and if you try to Google information on this (prepare your tin foil hat) you can only find people claiming Joe Rogan told them McDonald's has a secret exclusive best coke formula.

Re: McDonald's gives its restaurants an AI makeover

#130

Post by somerandomqaguy »

Spivak wrote: post #123
autoexec wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They absolutely will. The problem with just setting a high price is that they'd be leaving money on the table whenever anyone who could afford even higher prices comes through. That's what they want to eliminate. Even if you aren't earning more money the algorithm will constantly be testing you by jacking up prices to see what you'll endure under which circumstances. Screaming kids in the car with you? You'll probabl…

Look, I'm all excited over the incoming cyberpunk dystopia but no they won't be able to do this. They still have posted menu prices and folks will be pissed if prices ever go up from what they're expecting to pay.

Maybe? Supposedly there's a McDonalds out in Denver's that's removed it's inside digital menu boards. Kiosks only.

https://kioskindustry.org/mcdonalds-kiosk-counterless/

Not sure how much of a trend this is though.

Post reply on HN