AI's Latest Problem? Screwing Up Orders at McDonalds

Perhaps AI "needs a little more work," writes ZDNet columnist Chris Matyszczyk - noting problems with the automated voice-recognition systems at McDonald's drivethrough lanes. The trouble started when TikTok-er Ren Adams ordered hash browns, sweet tea and a Coke.All seemed fine until, at a second drive-thru lane, another car pulled up. Adams' AI helper seems to have overheard that order and added it to Adams'. Adams tried to make the robot see sense. Or, rather hear it. Instead, the robot removed the errant Diet Coke and replaced it with, oh, nine sweet teas instead of one. Which suggests something of a problem. When your robot drive-thru employee makes a mistake, to whom can you complain? Complaining to the robot seems to create an extra layer of complication and the potential for even greater misunderstanding. Adams, indeed, isn't alone. Here's Caitlyn Sykora (not) ordering $254 of McNuggets meals. And here's Madilynn Cameron wanting a large cup of water and a cup of ice cream and discovering butter is included. She seems to have given up. The customer who'd ordered one sweet tea and instead got nine also drove off in a huff, according to the end of their TikTok video. Matyszczyk's conclusion? " if you're not so good at fixing ice-cream machines, how good will you be at maintaining thousands of robot order-takers?"

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