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.
Stop using their “Rewards app” It’s tracking your purchases, which’ll inform their surveillance and skew the boards.
Correct, but a few additions.
They already have your credit card on record for repeat purchases (if you pay digitally, they know who you are), thats not the data those apps are after. They are just as bad as tiktoc and reddit when it comes to tracking phone activity and asking for every permission that isnt nailed down. Your phone activity data is worth more to data brokers than a free sandwich every tuesday.
The average persons data is. I wonder what mine is worth. Surely it just says “yeah they are never going to willingly buy your product, target friends who will apply social pressure instead … Oh, they are just happy sitting there without ordering anything”
It USED to have pretty good deals frequently, and then they keep offer less and less of them, so I just don’t even order from them anymore
Here’s how they’re fucking with their items: https://youtu.be/JlpuVHdZyqI?is=Ea_H2b5qleAaq2Vo