McDonald's AI Pricing Engine Sets Different Big Mac Prices Just Two Miles Apart
McDonald's push to have AI price your Big Mac
McDonald's uses machine learning to set menu prices at its nearly 14,000 U.S. restaurants, analyzing millions of daily transactions to generate an "optimal price" per item and location. The system has widened price gaps between nearby stores—one Fresno Big Mac costs $5.69, another two miles away $6.89—while franchisees say they face pressure to accept the recommendations. McDonald's calls the portal a tool, not a mandate, but the push raises antitrust and reputational risks.
You don't really have much of a choice anymore.
- ndiddy
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?
- grogers
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.
- HarHarVeryFunny
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.