McDonald’s AI Drive-Thru: Past, Present, and Future

Hey there,

McDonald’s is discontinuing its two-year experiment with IBM’s AI-powered voice ordering technology at drive-thru kiosks. The automated order-taking (AOT) system, deployed in over 100 restaurant locations, will be switched off by July 26. Instead of renewing the partnership with IBM, McDonald’s aims to explore alternative voice AI solutions from other vendors. While the trials with the AOT system were successful, the fast-food giant sees a broader opportunity in voice ordering solutions. However, viral instances of the AI system misinterpreting orders highlight the need for continued improvement.

TODAY’S ROADMAP

• Current Happenings in AI World

• Enhancing the Drive-Thru Experience: McDonald’s Shifts Voice AI Strategy

• ChatGPT Techniques for your learnings

• 5 AI Tools to Boost Your Productivity

  and more…

NEWS

Current Happenings in AI World

• Recall AI Delayed: Microsoft’s Recall AI feature, which captures online actions via screenshots, faces security concerns and a delay. It was a standout tool for the company’s new AI PCs.

• OpenAI’s Move: Former NSA director Paul Nakasone joins OpenAI’s board and safety committee after stepping down from his government role.

• Brave’s Integration: The security-focused Brave web browser combines its search engine and Leo chatbot, enabling real-time information retrieval based on user queries.

• Pope’s Warning: In the first-ever G7 speech by a pontiff, Pope Francis highlighted AI’s potential dangers. An AI-generated photo of the pope wearing a puffy jacket went viral last year.

AI UPDATE

Enhancing the Drive-Thru Experience: McDonald’s Shifts Voice AI Strategy

McDonald’s, the fast-food giant, is making a strategic move by discontinuing the use of IBM’s AI-powered voice ordering technology at its drive-thru kiosks. The automated order-taking (AOT) system, deployed in over 100 restaurant locations, will be switched off by July 26. Instead of renewing the partnership with IBM, McDonald’s aims to explore alternative voice AI solutions from other vendors.

According to Restaurant Business, the trials with the AOT system were successful, but McDonald’s sees a broader opportunity in voice ordering solutions. Mason Smoot, McDonald’s chief restaurant officer, emphasized this in a message to franchisees: “While there have been successes to date, we feel there is an opportunity to explore voice ordering solutions more broadly.”

In 2019, McDonald’s acquired AI voice startup Apprente, integrating it into McD Tech Labs. Although later sold to IBM in 2021, the AI voice technology has been in use for drive-thrus since then. McDonald’s joins a growing list of fast-food chains, including White Castle, Del Taco, Hardee’s, and Checkers, leveraging generative AI technologies to streamline customer orders. These systems process and convert orders automatically, allowing on-site staff to focus on fulfilling food orders. However, viral instances of the AI system misinterpreting orders—such as a customer receiving ketchup and butter instead of water and vanilla ice cream—highlight the need for continued improvement.

AI AT JOB

ChatGPT Techniques for your learnings

• Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule):

  • Identify the 20% of concepts or activities that yield 80% of the results in your subject or skill.

  • Focus on these high-impact areas to accelerate learning.

  • Tips: Analyze past performance, prioritize based on importance, and allocate time accordingly.

• Spaced Repetition:

  • Create a repetition schedule for learning a specific topic.

  • Use tools like Anki or Quizlet to review material at increasing intervals.

  • Incorporate spaced repetition into your daily study routine for optimal retention.

• Interleaving Technique:

  • Mix different subtopics within your subject area.

  • Create a weekly study plan that alternates between these subtopics.

  • Maximize retention and understanding by switching between related concepts.

• Active Learning:

  • Engage in problem-solving, discussions, and teaching others.

  • Apply concepts in practical scenarios to deepen understanding.

  • Craft thought-provoking questions to encourage critical thinking.

• Feynman Technique:

  • Break down a specific topic into simple explanations.

  • Teach it as if you were explaining it to someone else.

  • Identify gaps in your understanding and refine your knowledge .

AI MEETS PRODUCTIVITY

5 AI Tools to Boost Your Productivity

• Neurooo: A translation companion that handles over 100 languages, excelling at context understanding and tone adaptation1.

• Jace: An AI assistant for complex web automation, interaction, and communication.

• TresdotsAI: A chatbot for asking questions and interacting with YouTube videos.

• TwoShot: Converts creative ideas into tangible sounds using an AI sample generator.

• Sixfold: Enhances underwriting capacity, accuracy, and transparency for insurers.

PROMPT OF THE DAY

Comprehensive Guide: Boost eCommerce Ad Performance with Google’s Responsive Display Ads

Prompt: You are an expert in eCommerce advertising, with expertise and experience in utilizing Google's Responsive Display Ads feature to create mobile-friendly product images for eCommerce ads. Responsive Display Ads in Google allow you to upload various assets such as headlines, descriptions, and images, and Google's machine learning algorithms automatically generate ads that adapt to different screen sizes and placements. By utilizing this feature, you can ensure that your eCommerce ads are visually appealing and optimized for mobile devices, improving the overall user experience and increasing the chances of driving conversions.
Create a comprehensive guide on maximizing eCommerce ad performance using Google's Responsive Display Ads. The goal is to automate the creation of mobile-friendly product images to increase user engagement. The guide should include step-by-step instructions on setting up and optimizing Responsive Display Ads, with a focus on creating visually appealing product images that are optimized for mobile devices. Additionally, provide insights on best practices for ad design, including image dimensions, file formats, and recommended tools or software for image creation. The output should be a detailed guide in a PDF format, complete with screenshots and examples to illustrate the concepts discussed.

Automate mobile-friendly product image creation using Google’s Responsive Display Ads to enhance eCommerce ad performance and engagement.

AI CRAFTED IMAGES

Desert Valkyrie: Steel and Sand

Prompt: a girl dressed in futuristic military outfit and wrapped in a yellowish ragged scarf. poses with a black cane corso dog breed with a thick spike collar in front of a dusty rusted car modified for battle with automatic weapons. She is having The Slavic Squat posture and holding a futuristic rifle. Desert scenery.
Hyper realistic, sci-fi feel

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Team AI Junction

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