mcdonalds
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McDonald’s pauses AI-powered drive-thru voice orders
McDonald's has ended a two-year trial of automated voice-ordering systems at more than 100 drive-thru locations. The company is also ending a partnership with IBM over the use of AI order-taking tech.
Kris Holt06.17.2024
Apple's union-busting practices violated employee rights at NYC store, judge rules
The company has been told to 'cease and desist' from interfering with staff actions.
Sarah Fielding06.21.2023
The McPlant tastes just like any McDonald's burger
Almost a year later, McDonald’s first plant-based burger (ignoring the veggie “burgers” that have come before it) goes on limited sale in the US.
Mat Smith11.02.2021
Online resellers are making bank from Pokémon Happy Meals
Boxes of 100-plus trading card packs are selling for $1,000 on eBay.
Kris Holt02.10.2021
McDonalds is making its own plant-based burger
You might be able to try meatless McPlant menu items next year.
Kris Holt11.09.2020
Ford will turn McDonald's used coffee bean husks into car parts
Ford and McD's have teamed up for a project, but you don't have to worry about seeing any vehicles emblazoned with the fast food chain's famous logo. The two corporations are working together in the name of sustainability: specifically, the automaker will soon start using coffee chaff from McDonald's to manufacture auto parts like headlamp housings and other interior and exterior components. In addition to making Ford vehicles a little bit "greener," the coffee chaff -- or the waste produced by coffee during the roasting process -- will apparently also help the company make parts that are 20 percent lighter.
Mariella Moon12.04.2019
McDonald's will sell plant-based Beyond Meat burgers in Canada
McDonald's has revealed its answer to Burger King's plant-based Impossible Whopper. On September 30th, the fast food giant will start serving the P.L.T. or Plant Lettuce Tomato burger in 28 restaurants in Southwestern Ontario. It created the new item using plant-based patties from Impossible Burger rival Beyond Meat, which also has an ongoing partnership with KFC to test its plant-based chicken.
Mariella Moon09.26.2019
McDonald's is using Alexa and Google Assistant to hire new workers
McDonald's has launched a new voice experience for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, but it's not for hungry customers looking to order a couple of burgers. It's called Apply Thru, and the company says it's the world's first voice-initiated application process. To summon it, job seekers simply need to say "Alexa/OK Google, help me get a job at McDonald's" or "Talk to McDonald's Apply Thru."
Mariella Moon09.25.2019
McDonald’s plans to bring AI voice technology to its drive-thrus
Fast food is about to get even faster. McDonald announced today that it is buying the voice tech startup Apprente so it can automate its drive-thru menu. The Mountain View-based company specializes in building voice-based agents that can take orders in multiple languages and accents. The fast food giant has been testing Apprente's technology in several locations and expects it will allow for "faster, simpler and more accurate order taking" at its drive-thrus.
Amrita Khalid09.10.2019
McDonald's ends UberEats delivery exclusive by adding DoorDash
If you suddenly have an urge for McDonald's at home, you won't need to go through UberEats to get it. The fast food chain has expanded its delivery options to include DoorDash. The rollout will start in Houston, where the courier option will be available in over 200 restaurants starting on July 29th. McDonald's will also be part of the DashPass subscription service, so you won't have to pay extra for delivery if you regularly get your Big Mac fixes at home.
Jon Fingas07.16.2019
Uber Elevate plans to deliver Big Macs by drone this summer
Move over, Uber Eats. Uber Elevate plans to deliver food via drone as early as this summer. To start, the service will be available in San Diego, and since Uber has been working closely with McDonalds, it will likely be optimized for things like Big Macs and fries.
Christine Fisher06.12.2019
McDonald's will use AI to automatically tweak drive-thru menus
When you roll up to a McDonald's drive-thru in the near future, you might notice the menu changing while you're ordering to persuade you to buy a few more items. The fast food giant is buying machine learning startup Dynamic Yield for a reported $300 million, and the first stop for the company's AI is the drive-thru window.
Kris Holt03.26.2019
This funky new font is made up entirely of brands
A digital studio called Hello Velocity has created a typeface that embraces well-known corporate logos and is still somehow far less annoying than Comic Sans. The studio says it creates "thought-provoking internet experiences," and its Brand New Roman font is a clever statement on consumerism.
Kris Holt09.01.2018
Justin Roiland is a totally chill, normal guy with a new video game
Justin Roiland absentmindedly twirls the faces of the Rubik's Cube in his hands as we finish setting up the camera equipment. "I'm playing Shadows of Mordor... I just got the Oculus Go so I'm like messing around with bunch of stuff on [that]," he mentions. "I'm playing on the Switch, I'm playing ... god, too many things at once. I have too many games right now that I'm sort of bouncing around, you know?"
Andrew Tarantola06.15.2018
Wendy’s will deliver your next Baconator through DoorDash
Starting today, you'll be able to get Wendy's delivered right to your door as the chain is now partnering exclusively with DoorDash. At launch, the delivery service is available in 48 markets nationwide. Wendy's and DoorDash piloted the program earlier this year in Columbus, Ohio and Dallas, Texas and the restaurant chain said that the Baconator and Frosty were popular items during the test.
Mallory Locklear12.01.2017
Junk technology: A ridiculous history of fast-food PR stunts
Who doesn't love a good, over-the-top marketing stunt? Recently we've seen a lot of those, including Pizza Hut's Pizza Parka, a coat made out of the same insulating materials as its delivery pouches. Because why not? That ridiculous product from Pizza Hut shouldn't come as a surprise. After all, this is the same company that made shoes that can order a pie for you. But Pizza Hut isn't the only one trying to get creative using technology to promote its brand.
Edgar Alvarez10.14.2017
McDonald's offers UK deliveries through UberEats
In the UK, there are many ways to stave off hunger without leaving the comfort of your home. Just-Eat, Deliveroo and Amazon Prime Now are but a few of the mobile apps that will deliver to your doorstep, however until today one particular restaurant chain has been impossible to obtain: McDonald's. Following a rollout in the US, the fast-food giant has now teamed up with UberEats in Britain. So yes, you can order a Big Mac meal whenever you're feeling lazy or hungover. We won't judge, promise.
Nick Summers06.22.2017
Subway hopes touchscreens will bust up its sales slump
It couldn't be that their bread used to contain the same chemicals as yoga mats. It certainly isn't the fact that their high-profile spokesman of 15 years is now serving 15 more in federal prison on charges of sex with minors and child pornography. No, no, no. Obviously the reason that Subway's sales have been in a three-year slump, one of the worst in company history, is that their restaurants aren't sufficiently high tech.
Andrew Tarantola06.15.2017
McDonald's uses Snapchat to hire millennials
Snapchat isn't just meant for sending ephemeral messages anymore. If you want to watch some shows, just check out its Discovery platform. In fact, you can even use it to apply for a grueling and thankless fast food job now that McDonald's has teamed up with the app to hire 250,000 workers across the US this summer. Golden Arches has turned to the service to lure in potential applicants, since most of its hires are between 16 and 24 years old -- half of Snapchat's users just happen to fall in the same age range. The company will start sending direct invites to users today, and anyone interested can start sending in what it calls "Snaplications," as well.
Mariella Moon06.13.2017
McDonald's will satisfy your Big Mac craving with UberEats delivery
McDonald's already tried delivering Quarter Pounder combo meals via Uber in Florida and now the fast-food restaurant it ready to expand the option. Crain's Chicago Business reports that McDonald's will launch its delivery option in more cities before the end of June. And yes, it's still powered by UberEats.
Billy Steele04.27.2017