They haven't already replaced all their employees with kiosks?
Fuck AI
"We did it, Patrick! We made a technological breakthrough!"
A place for all those who loathe AI to discuss things, post articles, and ridicule the AI hype. Proud supporter of working people. And proud booer of SXSW 2024.
AI, in this case, refers to LLMs, GPT technology, and anything listed as "AI" meant to increase market valuations.
I assume the employees in the kitchen have to yell pelase and thank you after someone orders through the kiosk.
Like the places where everyone has to yell welcome when someone enters. I turn around and go somewhere else when that happens.
Let me say as a European who only visited the U.S. once decades ago... Every time I entered a shop or restaurant there would be a stream of staff saying 'Have a nice day'... this was so fucking weird and annoying because
a) I'm in a fucking Subway in fucking Bellend, Utah b) I'm here for work c) Fuck me, my client just said grace for the shitiest sandwich I've ever tasted. Seriously, this thing tasted more of iron fillings than chicken Caesar. d) The people saying this clearly didn't give a shit about my day, not that I blame them
America is so strange to me...
c) Fuck me, my client just said grace for the shitiest sandwich I’ve ever tasted
To be fair, Bellend, Utah is kinda the worst-case scenario for that sort of weirdness.
The issue is that studies show that friendliness will improve business through retention. It's cheaper to fake friendliness than it is to actually build an environment where people give a shit.
It's along the same lines as retail establishments who force their employees to stand because it makes them look more professional/busier/more hard working. Instead of either letting retail employees sit down (especially cashiers, what the fuck?) or giving them something meaningful to do that isn't cleaning the same square foot of floor or rearranging because you're tired of seeing your workers happy and want to force customers to look in a different place every time they walk in, you force them to look busy. They're building a cargo cult of management.
This isn't friendliness, this is creepiness and I really doubt even Americans are falling for this bullshit. If they do, then I'm really don't understand the American psyche.
Americans aren't falling for it. We range from "I don't give a shit" to "Let them poor workers just fucking work, man". Middle managers who want to look like they're doing something and store managers who believe they are the Lord and Master of their little fiefdoms do though.
No sushi for you then, huh?
Ok, that is the one exception.
If they’re wearing headsets I’m assuming it’s for the employees working the drive-thru
As someone with experience in hospitality: you know what? Use it. But not on the staff, but on the customer. +15% price and fat tips automatically if they don't say either. God, I hate rude people.
The less professional and more stoned sounding the fast food worker, the more I'm willing to go to a place.
If you're gonna pay minimum wage your employees should at least be vibin.
Gross, I will continue not eating at BK
No Kings!
No Clowns!
Hand me a salad!
Lettuce dismantle this fascist regime!
They should force their employees to say sorry instead over how bland their food tastes
Finally, a use for AI worthy of the massive investment we've all had to make....
Maybe they should pay their employees a living wage. Because their investors have taken that share from working people in this sector they can't imagine giving it back, even as it wouldn't affect the prices they charged if they just reduced profit margins to what it used to be since before the War on Poverty was won by the Rich.
Burger King is toilet food
Corporations suck. They give people shitty jobs at shitty pay with shitty schedules with the knowledge that the people taking those jobs have few choices so they can be controlled, and the corporations control them as hard as they can. From how they dress to how they speak to not letting people sit for the duration of their shift.
Cool, I won't ever eat there again. Too easy. Thanks for saving me some money BK. I'll have it my way after all.
Soon enough, Burger-G will be a thing,
Some Burger King executive read this and said "A punny AI name, I like that! We should make one called Patty, get it?"
And then they did.

But there isn't even a need to say please and thank you?
Like, you order on the touch screen, you go to the counter when your number pops up and they hand you the bag ... no words are required at all. I don't even take my headphone off any more.
I’m assuming it’s for the employees on the drive-thru; they’re already wearing headsets