McDonald’s is testing a new AI-powered system called ArchIQ at five US locations. The company has not said where those restaurants are located. The voice assistant, nicknamed Archy, can take drive-thru orders and has shown it can handle both English and Spanish.
How the System Works
The system is designed to take drive-thru orders and help with operations behind the scenes. According to an anonymous McDonald’s franchisee account, the system has processed over one million transactions, with about 90% of orders completed without human intervention.
The system also appears to have a management role, alerting managers to potential issues before they slow down operations. McDonald’s has not confirmed a nationwide launch date for the system.
Benefits and Concerns
If the system works well, it could help restaurants move cars through the line faster and reduce mistakes during busy hours. However, there are concerns about the accuracy of the system and the potential for misunderstandings. Some customers may also prefer to interact with a human rather than an AI voice.
McDonald’s has not publicly explained how the system will handle customer data and privacy. Customers are advised to check their orders carefully and ask for a crew member if they have any issues.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
