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McDonald\u2019s is partnering with Google to deploy generative AI<\/a> beginning <\/strong>in 2024, when \u201cthousands\u201d of stores will get hardware and software upgrades. Along with updates to other systems including ordering kiosks and the company\u2019s mobile app, McDonald\u2019s will be able to use generative AI on massive amounts of data to optimize operations. At least one outcome <\/strong>will be \u2014 according to the company \u2014 \u201chotter, fresher food\u201d for customers. Large orders of fries delivered hot, thanks to large language models? It\u2019s not completely<\/em> clear what that means, but we can read between the lines: expect more AI-driven automation at a drive-through near you in the coming years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n McDonald\u2019s isn\u2019t specific about how AI will be used but says it will include hardware and software upgrades running on-location in stores as well as services provided through Google Cloud. The updated system will help managers \u201cquickly spot and enact solutions to reduce business disruptions.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The McDonald\u2019s statement <\/strong>also skirts the question of AI replacing human workers, mentioning only that the system should \u201creduce complexity\u201d for store crews and that it will \u201cpower exciting new experiences for crew and customers.\u201d Wendy\u2019s \u2014 another Google Cloud AI customer \u2014 held a similar line when it introduced AI ordering tests earlier this year<\/a>. As of June, it was running in beta in a single store <\/strong>in Columbus, Ohio, so the jury\u2019s still out.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Still, there\u2019s a whiff of \u201crobots replacing human workers\u201d in the air. The generative AI push also coincides with the deployment of a new \u201cbespoke\u201d operating system to unify the experience across the McDonald\u2019s mobile app and store kiosks. McD\u2019s says the overall <\/strong>changes will result in \u201cmore informed tests and automated solutions to enhance restaurant operations.\u201d Fake Drake<\/a> drive-through cashiers? McRib chatbots? Hard to say. In any case, it\u2019ll be some time before we find out whether anyone is actually lovin\u2019 it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n