Fury as restaurant chain tries to charge customer $15,400 at hated robot drive-thru
By: Emma Saletta (Daily Mail Online)
Just a few minor glitches to work out.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A White Castle AI drive-thru stunned a customer when his order total soared to a jaw-dropping $15,400.
The customer was placing a simple breakfast order — two number 12 combos, a bottled water, and a small hash brown for $16.12.
The machine suddenly added nine extra number 12 combos and then 100 number seven combos, each with chicken ring sliders and small fries.
'Why does it say that?' he asked, visibly confused on camera.
AI drive-thrus have been controversial, both for glitches like this and for their role in employee layoffs.
Presto Automation, which supplies systems to chains including Carl's Jr. and Del Taco, admitted humans were forced to intervene in seven in 10 orders.
'Can't stand that they are implementing AI into everything, s***s so annoying, it's like having to press one for English but at a drive through... God forbid someone has to do a little work,' a TikToker wrote.
'This is when we start boycotting the places that have this,' another commenter responded.
A driver was furious after a White Castle attempted to charge him $15,400 at an AI drive-thru
White Castle tested Mastercard's AI-powered drive-thrus at three restaurants in 2020. The machines made their debut at Sonic restaurants the year before.
The drive-thru tests began shortly after White Castle tested Flippy — a robotic burger and fry cook also used in Chipotle restaurants.
The chain tested the robot at a restaurant in Chicago. A new robot, Flippy 2, was created in 2021, and placed in several White Castle locations in 2023.
White Castle has not clarified how many Flippy's are making burgers. However, AI drive-thrus have been installed at over 60 restaurants.
McDonald's joined the AI drive-thru craze in 2021 after entering a partnership with IBM. The system included voice recognition, which was tested at 10 Chicago restaurants.
The AI systems underwent several viral mishaps, and after being installed at over 100 restaurants, McDonald's pulled the plug on the software.
Yum Brands — the owner of Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut — is in the process of installing AI drive-thrus at 500 restaurants.
Prior to their announcement, the company had rolled out Voice AI technology in drive-thrus at over 100 Taco Bell locations nationwide.
White Castle tested its first AI-powered drive-thrus at three restaurants in 2020
The future of this technology is looking good now that restaurant chains are creating smart kitchens.
Back in 2023, McDonald's partnered with Google to use cloud computing and AI solutions in kitchens.
McDonald's has already begun its AI revamp, and is aiming to have the technology installed in all 43,000+ locations.
Wingstop has been thriving ever since it began installing 'game changing' Smart Kitchens.
The chain had tested smart kitchens in about 30 restaurants before expanding to approximately 400 locations.
The brand is set to to continue expanding its smart kitchen to other locations systemwide by the end of the year.
Daily Mail has reached out to White Castle for comment regarding the video and AI drive-thrus, and is currently awaiting response.
Be a good human. Grossly derogatory comments, blatantly inflammatory comments, excessive trolling, mean-spirited taunting and insults, scamming, spamming, and off topic comments may be removed in compliance with the site's Terms of Service and the Code of Conduct. The moderators have the final word.
The big hallucinations are glaringly obvious. But what about the nickel and dime mistakes? Those pennies (that aren't minted any longer) start to add up.
Are we going to end up with AI fees and hidden AI surcharges? How large a tip will a robot earn? Are restaurants going give up that revenue?