Fast food drive-thrus adopt AI chatbots for order-taking, raising job displacement concerns

'It's a little bit weird, but it's also kind of cool,' said White Castle customer Mike Pappas, who visits the chain's drive-thru about once a week.

'I think it's a little bit scary,' said White Castle customer Kaitlyn Bohnett. 'I think it's taking away from human interaction.'

'The technology is now at a point where it's actually more accurate than humans,' said Max Rible, president of SoundHound's AI division.

'We're seeing a lot of companies that are looking at this technology as a way to reduce their labour costs,' said David Macdonald, a senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

'It's not just about taking orders. It's about the human connection that happens when you go through the drive-thru,' said one fast food worker.