High Tech: Is Idaho Ready For Fast Food AI Chatbots?

AI Drive-Thrus Are Taking Over Idaho

Roll through an Idaho Wendy’s drive-thru soon, and don’t be surprised if there’s a friendly bot, not a person, asking about your Frosty. Wendy’s is handing the drive-thru mic to AI by 2025! With a project they're calling FreshAI, the fast-food giant is pairing up with Google Cloud to take orders with high-tech flair.

Faster Fries with a Side of Tech

Wendy’s claims their AI-powered voice assistant will make ordering quicker and more accurate. Imagine a world where your custom Baconator gets every extra topping right without that awkward pause of "Uh, could you repeat that?" The AI recognizes voice commands, handles modifications, and keeps things moving while the crew focuses on whipping up those square patties in the back.

CEO Kirk Tanner even tested the bot, trying out FreshAI weekly at their Ohio prototype location. If it works there, Idaho is next on the list to see if drive-thru robots are the ultimate hack for fast food fans.

Cool or Creepy? Customers Are Split

While some folks are thrilled to skip the human exchange, others aren’t so sure. Fans are saying, “Finally, someone (or something) gets my order right!” But the skeptics? Picture Reddit lighting up with one user vowing to overload the AI by ordering “40,000 waters.” Classic.

Wendy’s swears this isn't about job cuts, but locals wonder if fewer human employees might be in the cards if the bots deliver. For now, though, it’s all about making service faster and fuss-free.

Whether you’re team bot or human, one thing’s for sure, Idaho’s drive-thru game is about to level up in a big way. Are you ready to test out AI with your next Dave’s Single?

(source: USA Today)