The fast food chain's Automated Order Taker is powered by artificial intelligence. The Automated Order Taker (AOT) pilot system has already been deployed in over 100 restaurants across the US, but will be unceremoniously shut down in July.
The idea was to use AI to process orders at drive-thrus to speed up processes and simplify operations. The AOT system was launched in conjunction with tech giant IBM, but neither company has given an itchy explanation for the programme's closure.
CNBC has learnt that the technology is far from perfect. The publication reports that AOT has problems translating different accents and dialects, leading to order accuracy issues.
However, McDonald's remains optimistic about the future of artificial intelligence. "As we move forward, our work with IBM has given us the confidence that a voice ordering solution for drive-thru will be part of our restaurants’ future," McDonald's said in a statement. The company plans to continue evaluating scalable, long-term solutions and aims to make an informed decision by the end of the year.
IBM confirmed the test results, but noted ongoing discussions and pilots with other quick-service restaurant customers interested in AOT technology.
Source: CNBC