McDonald's push to have AI price your Big Mac

If we're already seeing dynamic burger pricing based on market rates, does McDonald's also plan on offering a burger derivative market so customers can hedge their pricing risk in case unforeseen events cause the burger price to skyrocket?

Maybe instead of spending money on AI to squeeze as much profit as possible you could just fix your self ordering kiosks to not suck? They are painfully slow to the point where you have to click things multiple times because it doesn't register and then when it does wake up it registers the second click on some unrelated thing that you have to undo. Plus half the time the card reader doesn't work so you have to pay at the counter anyways, which they don't staff so it takes forever to flag someone down.

Price surging exploits inertial social pressure. If you are out with a group, it is hard to opt out even if the situation feels like you are being taken advantage of in the moment.

Soon you'll need to bring your own agent to negotiate the price of your Big Mac.

Or you could just go somewhere with better food, better prices, and no AI.

Fort. for most of us smart ones, havnt ventured to a McDs in a few years. They have aged like milk. Cant wait for them to die on the vine.

Experienced this first-hand the other day when visiting a newly opened McDonalds in my small town (my first time dining there in ages). A Big Mac meal was $10.80! And what I got in exchange for that price was a poorly assembled burger with almost no sauce.

A couple weeks later, my wife convinced me to try another Big Mac from a different McDonalds. This time, the burger was priced at $8 (not important, but burger tasted a lot better too).

I understand price reflects demand but I can't help but feel a bit scammed.

> One pricing factor supercharged by AI: an estimate of how much each store’s patrons are willing to pay.

How is this any different from businesses who do not have transparent pricing? E.g.: Enterprise SaaS; consultancy; architectural materials.

There was a Jon Stewart podcast on this a couple of weeks ago on Machine Learning and custom pricing. It was an illuminating one. It all looks like a lead up to big consumer action and lawsuit in the future. TBH, McDonald’s pricing might survive as it seems to charge the same for everyone at the same store.

That's alright. I'm willing to pay $1 for a Big Mac. If the algorithm matches that willingness of mine, I may buy one. Maybe.

What does that mean for the Big Mac Index?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Mac_Index

The only winning move is not to play

I haven't had McD for like 15 years, is it any better these days or same thing just pricier?

I often wonder if it's possible to organize to have people collude to refuse any price above breakeven.

why does this never result in the food getting cheaper.

I will never give McDonald's money after they let Trump use McDonald's to mock Kamala Harris for working at McDonald's. And the food is terrible value for money.

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