Prepare
At last, robots will replace humans @McDonaldsDrive-thrus are coming soon. It will be a horrible experience for many, but it is a necessity for all retail and food jobs in the future. Start preparing if you already have the job. It is a remarkable job for techs. @IBMThis will increase its power. https://t.co/xu6jKXa3mh
— Adam Greenbaum (@Greenbaumly) October 28, 2021
Commenters advised fast food workers, labor organizations and politicians to start preparing for automation rather than reacting to its emergence. They worried that it was too late to make policies or raise awareness of this complicated issue.
Antisocial
Ppl are expressing their dismay at the AI McDonald’s. An AI will allow me to order so that I don’t have stress for the next six hours about what I said to the person taking my order. This technology works for me. #Socialanxiety #ILikeSelfCheckOutsToo #IAlsoUseTheMcDsKiosks
— Devil of the Desert MSc (@desertdevil666) October 31, 2021
Some users, on the other hand, welcomed the idea for an AI order-taking system because they could avoid human contact. Some users compared it with the increase in self-checkout lanes in stores.
Some examples
Pretty sure McDonald’s robots are going to do this https://t.co/7aPAdEvnfq pic.twitter.com/DLFncDQYWx
— Sky Draco (@SkyDracoBlue) October 31, 2021
AI restauranteurs have been shown in enough media that users can pull out some deep-cut references. Many assumed that robot servers would soon have all the quirks and characteristics of human servers.
Scare Tactics
This is clearly a PR scam to scare the peasants into agreeing to a low minimum wage and reduced child labor laws, and remaining silent (so that the robots don’t start flipping burgers).
— Canard Chronique (@Canard_Chroniq) October 31, 2021
Some people suggested that McDonald’s advertised the AI program to make it seem like they were trying to intimidate former employees into accepting lower wages instead of fighting for a larger paycheck.
Customers
These companies will continue to automate everything and soon, there won’t be customers who can afford their products. They will all be out of work. It is time for them to stop prioritizing profits over people, and instead start paying a living wages.
— HR Puckinfutz (@HR_Puckinfutz) October 31, 2021
Some commenters wondered whether the savings McDonald’s makes by using AI employees would be offset by the drop in customers. The people they are laying off won’t be able to afford burgers.
AI Rights
Former McDonald’s employee isn’t sure if AI will accept job at burger restaurant https://t.co/0k4hosqp1m
— Simon Sharwood (@ssharwood) October 30, 2021
Many people wondered if an AI could work at McDonald’s if it was sufficiently developed. Ex-employees invited the AI to share their stories.