Remember those hilarious videos of AI drive-thru fails at McDonald’s? Well, Taco Bell is saying “hold my Baja Blast” and diving headfirst into the world of AI-powered ordering.
By the end of this year, hundreds of Taco Bell locations across the US will be equipped with AI voice technology in their drive-thrus. That’s right, your late-night cravings for a Crunchwrap Supreme might soon be satisfied by a computer instead of a sleepy teenager!
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Didn’t McDonald’s just ditch their AI ordering system?” McDonald’s did indeed pull the plug on their AI experiment after customers ended up with some truly bizarre orders. Yet Taco Bell is confident they’ve cracked the code.
Lawrence Kim, the chief innovation officer at Yum! Brands (Taco Bell’s parent company), assured says that their AI has been in testing for two whole years. They’ve been gathering feedback, tweaking the system, and teaching it all the weird and wonderful ways people pronounce “quesadilla.”
But here’s the kicker – Taco Bell claims this AI assistant isn’t replacing human workers. Instead, it’s supposed to free up employees to focus on other tasks, like perfecting the art of stuffing as many ingredients as possible into a single taco. And if the AI gets confused? Don’t worry, there’s always a human on standby ready to jump in and save your order from digital disaster.
So, next time you roll up to a Taco Bell drive-thru, don’t be surprised if the voice taking your order sounds a little… different. It might just be the future of fast food, served with a side of artificial intelligence. Just remember to enunciate clearly – we don’t want any accidental orders of 50 Doritos Locos Tacos. (Or do we?)
Source: Taco Bell