The use of AI ordering systems could exacerbate staffing issues, particularly in the fast food industry which has been heavily affected by the reduced labor supply due to COVID-19. Workers may seek other employment if asked to handle an increased workload without a corresponding increase in pay. The automation of human interaction is not as straightforward as robotically assembling a sandwich, as it involves layers of abstraction that bots cannot intuit. Despite being marketed as "AI", these programs are limited to their existing knowledge bases.
Key takeaways:
- AI chatbot technology is being used in drive-thrus at over 400 restaurants across the United States, with the aim of freeing up workers to focus on core duties.
- However, these AI systems have been found to have an accuracy rate of only 86 percent, leading to one in seven orders being incorrect and needing to be corrected by a human employee.
- The use of AI in this way could exacerbate staffing issues in the fast food industry, as workers may seek other employment if their workload increases without a corresponding increase in pay.
- While AI technology can perform certain tasks, it lacks the ability to learn and adapt in the same way a human can, leading to limitations in its effectiveness.