this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2026
693 points (98.5% liked)

Technology

88475 readers
3495 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.

Our Rules

  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
L3s@lemmy.world
enu@lemmy.world
technopagan@lemmy.world
L4s@lemmy.world
L3s@hackingne.ws
693
McDonald's is reportedly using AI to "dynamically" price its burgers (www.engadget.com)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works to c/technology@lemmy.world
199 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

McDonald's has been using artificial intelligence to dynamically price menu items in the US and some global markets, according to a report by Reuters. This involves finding the "optimal price" to match what a particular store's patrons would be willing to pay.

This fluctuates according to location, and even stores in the same city can have different cost amounts for the same exact items, according to information reviewed by Reuters. This is basically surge pricing, like with ride-share platforms, but for hockey puck burgers that have been sitting under a hot lamp.

Reuters got a look at the interface that franchisees use to access this technology and it's pretty creepy. Messages show stuff like "your restaurant is showing MEDIUM SENSITIVITY to price" based on "customer willingness to pay in your area." Cost differences at nearby locations can be stark. Researchers found that a Bic Mac at a Fresno, California store cost $5.69, but the same burger cost $6.89 at another branch two miles down the road. That's a 21 percent difference.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Kissaki@feddit.org 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

This reminds me of a video I saw where someone committed to this. New phone, use free offers, put stuff in cart but don't buy, GPS in low income or low spend areas. They got someone from Craigslist to do much of this work.

It worked. I don't remember channel or where they compared afterwards, though.

Seems like here it's store based not individual customer based. Maybe you can get others to join you. Buy only the cheapest items, and the other items will get cheaper.