McDonald's is discontinuing its trial of AI-driven drive-thru order-taking due to varied performance outcomes. The fast-food giant, in collaboration with IBM since 2021, cited operational complexities and customer feedback, including instances where the AI misinterpreted simple orders.

While expressing optimism about future voice-ordering possibilities, McDonald's emphasized ongoing evaluation and collaboration with IBM in other domains. Despite setbacks, McDonald's global footprint of 27,000 drive-thru locations had AI implemented at 100 U.S. sites by December.

Concurrently, competitors like Chipotle, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut are advancing AI applications in their operations, foreseeing potential efficiencies and cost savings.

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