McDonald's has announced that it will partner with Google in 2024 to deploy generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology to optimize the operations of its stores around the world. The initiative, which is expected to be implemented in "thousands" of restaurants, involves a massive upgrade of hardware and software. The main goal is to improve the efficiency of restaurant operations by optimizing massive amounts of data to provide customers with "hotter, fresher food".
In terms of upgrade details, McDonald's plans to upgrade multiple systems such as self-ordering kiosks and mobile apps. While McDonald's didn't specify how AI technology will be used, it expects the new system to help restaurant managers quickly identify and take solutions that reduce business disruption. The upgraded system includes not only local upgrades in stores, but also services provided through Google Cloud.
McDonald's statement did not explicitly state whether the introduction of AI would affect the number of employees. However, the company stressed that the system would "reduce the complexity of store staff" while providing "exciting new experiences" for staff and customers.
The move also coincides with McDonald's launching a new "customized" operating system designed to unify the experience of mobile apps and store self-ordering kiosks, leading to "smarter testing and automation solutions." In this way, McDonald's expects to further improve the operational efficiency of the restaurant.
McDonald's partnership with Google and the technology upgrades behind it mark a major step forward in the fast-food industry's use of AI to improve efficiency and customer experience. While it's unclear how this will affect the nature of employees' work, it's certain that customers will expect faster and fresher services and products in future McDonald's experiences.