The partnership is expected to offer "unmatched speeds" in developing capabilities and solutions, according to McDonald's Executive Vice President, Brian Rice. A specialized Google Cloud team will work with McDonald's innovation hub, 'Speedee Labs,' to implement the technology across many business goals. Despite the AI-centric development, the announcement did not suggest replacing human workers with AI. However, experts predict a trend towards automation in the face of a labor crisis, particularly in low-wage professions in the fast-food and service industries.
Key takeaways:
- McDonald's and Google are partnering to integrate generative artificial intelligence into McDonald's restaurants worldwide, aiming to improve food quality and overall services.
- The partnership will involve the use of cloud technology and AI to help minimize business interruptions and speed up automation innovation.
- McDonald's plans to roll out a new, universal software in 2024 that will power all digital platforms used by customers and restaurants, aiming to provide a more consistent experience for customers.
- Despite the AI-centric development, the announcement did not suggest replacing human workers with AI, but experts foresee a trend towards automation in the fast-food and service industries.