McDonald\u2019s will halt the pilot for an artificial intelligence-powered ordering assistant, potentially marking a setback for the technology\u2019s takeover of daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fast food giant will end its two-year partnership with IBM for the AI system by July 26, meaning the tech will be removed from about 100 stores nationwide, industry publication Restaurant Business reported Friday<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u201cAutomated Order Technology\u201d developed by the IBM partnership allowed customers to speak with an AI-powered assistant instead of a real person at the drive-thru order window. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The company told franchisees that while the IBM partnership is ending late next month, it hasn\u2019t closed the door on future development for drive-thru order technology powered by AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhile there have been successes to date, we feel there is an opportunity to explore voice ordering solutions more broadly,\u201d McDonald\u2019s executive Mason Smoot wrote in a message acquired by Restaurant Business. \u201cIBM has given us confidence that a voice ordering solution for drive-thru will be part of our restaurant\u2019s future, and we want to sincerely thank IBM and the restaurant teams that have been part of this crucial test.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fast food chain told Restaurant Business that it will continue to work with IBM on other technologies for its business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n McDonald\u2019s isn\u2019t the only fast food chain to dabble in AI ordering. Both White Castle and Wendy\u2019s<\/u><\/a> are among the companies who have announced plans to roll out automated ordering in some capacity. Checkers and Rally\u2019s, Carl\u2019s Jr. and Hardee\u2019s and Dunkin have also begun development on the tech, according to Restaurant Business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tech development balances a desire to lower staffing needs to save money with the need for quick and accurate service, though it\u2019s currently unclear if the technology is good enough to replace drive-thru staff entirely. Some customers have complained<\/u><\/a> that the tech can\u2019t understand certain accents or can have trouble discerning background noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n