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243

McDonald's is reportedly using AI to "dynamically" price its burgers (www.engadget.com)

submitted 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) by spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works to c/technology@lemmy.world

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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.

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[–] ladicius@lemmy.world 8 points 4 hours ago (4 children)

no other viable option

Are there people who can't prepare the most basic foods themselves? I'd always prefer to prepare or cook something myself over getting fast food. Even a slice of bread with some cheese or meat plus some carrots or such is better than fast food in my eyes (and much cheaper anyways).

[–] eestileib@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 hours ago

You can go to the grocery store and buy frozen French fries and frozen patties and heat them in a toaster oven and it will be cheaper and better than McDonald's.

Granted for that you need a freezer and a toaster oven and a grocery store, and many people don't have those.

[–] ArmoredThirteen@lemmy.zip 3 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

I know people in their 30s who don't know how to cook beyond microwave meals and actively don't want to learn. Some of them have enough money they basically always go out to eat and drive throughs are convenient

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 1 points 1 hour ago

some get so addicted to eating out, eating home cooked food is not tasteful to them anymore.

[–] SaharaMaleikuhm@feddit.org 0 points 2 hours ago

Sad miserable losers

[–] lemmyng@lemmy.world 4 points 3 hours ago

Are there people who can't prepare the most basic foods themselves?

Sadly yes, either because they were never taught or never learned the basic skills, or live in food deserts that basically prevent them from access to groceries they can purchase and cook.

[–] psx_crab@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 hours ago

It's actually a problem that people usually doesn't prepare food tried to, and have to spend an hour on everything to make mediocre food, to the point that there's thousands of video teaching how to preo food quickly. Internet Shaquille's video are basically made to combat that.