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McDonald’s Ends AI Drive-Thru Test With IBM. Fox News reports that McDonald's has decided to end its artificial intelligence drive-thru program. According to 'Restaurant Business,' McDonald's Chief Restaurant Officer Mason Smoot said the decision was made "after a thoughtful review". "McDonald's has decided to end our current partnership with IBM on AOT [automated order taking] and the technology will be shut off in all restaurants currently testing it no later than July 26, 2024." The program, which started in 2021, saw over 100 McDonald's locations help test the new technology. "While there have been successes to date, we feel there is an opportunity to explore voice ordering solutions more broadly.", Mason Smoot, McDonald's Chief Restaurant Officer, via Fox News. According to Smoot, McDonald's will make "an informed decision on a future voice ordering solution by the end of the year" . "The goal of the test was to determine if an automated voice ordering solution could simplify operations for crew and create a faster, improved experience for our fans." The company echoed Smoot's sentiment in a statement to Fox News, while also addressing the future of AI programs at McDonald's. "After thoughtful review, McDonald’s has decided to end our current global partnership with IBM on AOT beyond this year. IBM remains a trusted partner and we will still utilize many of their products across our global system.", McDonald's statement, via Fox News. "We see tremendous opportunity in advancing our restaurant technology and will continue to evaluate long-term, scalable solutions that will help us make an informed decision on a future voice ordering solution by the end of the year.", McDonald's statement, via Fox News. THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT