3 ms·

It doesn't appear that Flippy has taken off. I spent a bit of time in a fast food kitchen around 20 years ago and it was already pretty automated, but it seems

It doesn't appear that Flippy has taken off. I spent a bit of time in a fast food kitchen around 20 years ago and it was already pretty automated, but it seems like human hands are quite hard to beat.

bhaney 3y ago
Cooks seem harder to automate, but I'm seeing kiosks replace cashiers more and more lately.
- MrFoof 3y ago
  My local McDonald's just renovated with what I assume is their newest layout concept. The front counter has exactly two registers/terminals, of which even at a busy time (school out, so tons of teenagers packed into the place), only one was staffed. Very small ordering counter. On the other side of the area is a much larger pick up area with order status screens. There's only two electronic menu boards down from the previous four. Yet six total self-order kiosks (three double-sided), but the real expectation is people will just place the order with the phone via mobile ordering. After all, that's what most of the teenagers order did, in order to get their $0.50 Double Cheeseburger (with no additional purchase). Moreover, you can't see into the kitchen anymore at all. It was a solid wood-decorated wall behind the counter, clearly a "hallway" or partition behind that, of which behind that is likely the actual kitchen. They increased the space of the dining area somewhat as a result.
  - dmoy 3y ago
    > in order to get their $0.50 Double Cheeseburger I haven't been to McDonald's (in the US at least) in like 20 years. Double cheeseburgers are only $0.50?? After inflation that feels like it costs 25% of what I used to pay.
    - bhaney 3y ago
      It's a special offer for using the app, not the normal price
    - mathgeek 3y ago
      It’s a promotional offer to get folks using the app and hopefully turning on ads via notifications.
    - MrFoof 3y ago
      Absolutely not. As others have mentioned, in-app coupon. Haven't seen it recur since (this was a few weeks ago). Normal price of a Double Cheeseburger at that location is $3.89 ($4.13 with sales tax).
      - dmoy 3y ago
        Ah okay, that makes a lot more sense
- calmworm 3y ago
  I much prefer a kiosk or ordering on my phone… and I also rarely do a drive thru order. There is less chance of a mistake when I enter the order myself.
- CTDOCodebases 3y ago
  This was inevitable. As a human it’s hard to compete with a screen when the person who needs to interact with you has used them for as long as they can remember.
imchillyb 3y ago
> https://www.indianarrative.com/culture-news/watch-mcdonalds-rolls-out-its-first-ever-fully-automated-restaurant-with-no-humans-86975.html https://www.indianarrative.com/culture-news/watch-mcdonalds-... December of 2022, McDonald's installed its first fully automated restaurant in Texas. This concept is only about 1-2 years away from burning across the US like a wildfire.
- hotpotamus 3y ago
  Is there a video showing the internals of this "fully automated" restaurant? Are there robots in there fulfilling the orders or is it people?
  - MrFoof 3y ago
    Per other articles, the restaurant basically employs nearly as many employees as any normal store. The automation is for order taking and delivery (conveyor belt), not cooking. Basically it eliminates the human interaction component for customers, but humans are still doing all the cooking, assembly, and packaging. Think similar to a 1920s automat, but with mobile ordering and drive thru. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/dec/23/mcdonalds-automated-workers-fort-worth-texas https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/dec/23/mcdonalds-a...
    - hotpotamus 3y ago
      That's what I thought I recalled. Like, am I the only one who'd disappointed with the lack of real advancement in automation in this space in my lifetime? I do think the online/kiosk ordering systems are nice, but it doesn't seem like it moves the needle all that much. Also, for what fast food costs these days, I can go to a local sit-down restaurant with a friend, briefly talk with a waiter, and talk to the checkout lady for a minute because we're regulars there and have a very pleasant lunch. I don't exactly long for human interaction at McD's but if we're going to go full automated dystopia (or just pretend that we have by removing all human interaction from the process), then I think it could be a lot cheaper.

bhaney 3y ago

Cooks seem harder to automate, but I'm seeing kiosks replace cashiers more and more lately.

MrFoof 3y ago
My local McDonald's just renovated with what I assume is their newest layout concept. The front counter has exactly two registers/terminals, of which even at a busy time (school out, so tons of teenagers packed into the place), only one was staffed. Very small ordering counter. On the other side of the area is a much larger pick up area with order status screens. There's only two electronic menu boards down from the previous four. Yet six total self-order kiosks (three double-sided), but the real expectation is people will just place the order with the phone via mobile ordering. After all, that's what most of the teenagers order did, in order to get their $0.50 Double Cheeseburger (with no additional purchase). Moreover, you can't see into the kitchen anymore at all. It was a solid wood-decorated wall behind the counter, clearly a "hallway" or partition behind that, of which behind that is likely the actual kitchen. They increased the space of the dining area somewhat as a result.
- dmoy 3y ago
  > in order to get their $0.50 Double Cheeseburger I haven't been to McDonald's (in the US at least) in like 20 years. Double cheeseburgers are only $0.50?? After inflation that feels like it costs 25% of what I used to pay.
  - bhaney 3y ago
    It's a special offer for using the app, not the normal price
  - mathgeek 3y ago
    It’s a promotional offer to get folks using the app and hopefully turning on ads via notifications.
  - MrFoof 3y ago
    Absolutely not. As others have mentioned, in-app coupon. Haven't seen it recur since (this was a few weeks ago). Normal price of a Double Cheeseburger at that location is $3.89 ($4.13 with sales tax).
    - dmoy 3y ago
      Ah okay, that makes a lot more sense
calmworm 3y ago
I much prefer a kiosk or ordering on my phone… and I also rarely do a drive thru order. There is less chance of a mistake when I enter the order myself.
CTDOCodebases 3y ago
This was inevitable. As a human it’s hard to compete with a screen when the person who needs to interact with you has used them for as long as they can remember.

imchillyb 3y ago

> https://www.indianarrative.com/culture-news/watch-mcdonalds-rolls-out-its-first-ever-fully-automated-restaurant-with-no-humans-86975.html https://www.indianarrative.com/culture-news/watch-mcdonalds-... December of 2022, McDonald's installed its first fully automated restaurant in Texas. This concept is only about 1-2 years away from burning across the US like a wildfire.

hotpotamus 3y ago
Is there a video showing the internals of this "fully automated" restaurant? Are there robots in there fulfilling the orders or is it people?
- MrFoof 3y ago
  Per other articles, the restaurant basically employs nearly as many employees as any normal store. The automation is for order taking and delivery (conveyor belt), not cooking. Basically it eliminates the human interaction component for customers, but humans are still doing all the cooking, assembly, and packaging. Think similar to a 1920s automat, but with mobile ordering and drive thru. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/dec/23/mcdonalds-automated-workers-fort-worth-texas https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/dec/23/mcdonalds-a...
  - hotpotamus 3y ago
    That's what I thought I recalled. Like, am I the only one who'd disappointed with the lack of real advancement in automation in this space in my lifetime? I do think the online/kiosk ordering systems are nice, but it doesn't seem like it moves the needle all that much. Also, for what fast food costs these days, I can go to a local sit-down restaurant with a friend, briefly talk with a waiter, and talk to the checkout lady for a minute because we're regulars there and have a very pleasant lunch. I don't exactly long for human interaction at McD's but if we're going to go full automated dystopia (or just pretend that we have by removing all human interaction from the process), then I think it could be a lot cheaper.