Chatbots at the drive-thru are just the beginning
The Verge • 5/17/2026
Summary
In 2021, McDonald's became one of the first major fast-food chains to implement an AI chatbot at the drive-thru, starting with 10 locations in Chicago. The technology was developed after McDonald's acquired Apprente, a startup focused on voice-based conversational technology, in 2019.
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Lindy Score Breakdown (V4.2)
3d
Age
1
Sources
from cluster
77
Hours Since Seen
Final Score4/100
CategoryAntiLindy
StatusActive
Recency Multiplier33% (0.5^77/48)
Hero EligibleYes
Score BreakdownRisk 50
Source Reputation: Low-trust source (6/20 pts)
Consensus: Single source - no independent confirmation yet
Age: 3 days - proven survivor
Stories gain Lindy status through source reputation, network consensus, and time survival.
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