this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2025
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After 2 Million AI Orders, Taco Bell Admits Humans Still Belong in the Drive-Thru (www.cnet.com)
submitted 2 weeks ago by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to c/tech@programming.dev
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Fast food companies have been experimenting with integrating artificial intelligence into their restaurants, from Flippy the burger-flipping robot at White Castle to dynamic pricing at Wendy's. One arena where AI seems to really be struggling, though, is at the drive-thru -- and Taco Bell is the latest to experience AI mishaps at the order box. After taking 2 million orders with AI, Taco Bell has reached one conclusion: we still need humans.

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[–] halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You're surprised that a fast food manager could be cutting corners even more than corporate requires? Or even just that fast food staffing is a clusterfuck of excessive call outs to the point where the location doesn't actually have enough staff?

[–] refalo@programming.dev 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

I never said I was surprised... I am fully aware that many locations are run poorly.

But I have never once in my life encountered a location where it was impossible to order at the counter from a human and only the kiosks worked. I mean they still have to hand you your food, why would they refuse to take your order at the counter? What if you were blind?

I asked several friends and they all said the same thing. I know that's a small sample size, but I still doubt your "half the time" number.

[–] PokerChips@programming.dev 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I use to experience it often. The only reason I don't anymore is because I avoid those locations. But I also rarely eat crappy fast food so I imagine most people experience it often

[–] BlueCollarRockstar@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Just another anecdote but I used to travel the country for work and it did feel like more and more McDonalds would not let you place an order with a person inside. I specifically remember this happening in 4 different cities in Florida.

[–] refalo@programming.dev 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Was the entire inside area closed off to foot traffic completely? Or are you saying the inside kiosks worked (and people would still hand you your food) but they somehow refused to actually take orders manually?

[–] BlueCollarRockstar@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The latter - everything normal inside, but only one register and nobody manning it. When I asked if I could place an order I was told they only take orders through the kiosks. This was between 2 and 3 years ago but I experienced it in multiple locations.

[–] refalo@programming.dev 2 points 2 weeks ago

I can't imagine what they would do if a blind person walked in.