Chatbots at the drive-thru are just the beginning
中文摘要
麦当劳于2021年率先在得来速引入AI语音点餐，标志着人工智能正逐步融入快餐服务与日常生活。
English Summary
McDonald's began using AI chatbots in drive-thrus in 2021, signaling the start of AI integration into daily fast-food services.
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more news about how AI is seeping into our daily lives, follow Emma Roth. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started In 2021, McDonald's became one of the first major fast-food chains to greet customers with an AI chatbot at the drive-thru. It started small, deploying the voice-ordering technology at 10 of its locations in Chicago. McDonald's developed its drive-thru tech after acquiring Apprente, a startup focused on voice-based, conversational technology in 2019, and later wor … Read the full story at The Verge.