McDonald's Drive-Thru AI Upgrade Goes Rogue, Tells Customers to Order 'Fries with a Side of Silence'
A viral video is circulating of a McDonald's drive-thru AI system malfunctioning, reportedly telling customers to order "fries with a side of silence" before refusing to process simple requests like "a McFlurry" and instead suggesting a "McFlurry of confusion." The clip, which has racked up over 2 million views on TikTok, shows the automated voice repeating "I didn't catch that" until the frustrated driver screams. McDonald's has confirmed a temporary software test failure but denies any "intentional glitch." Fact-check: The video is real, but the AI's phrasing is a misrepresentation—the system actually prompted, "Please speak louder for clarity," but a comedy news clip overdubbed the viral version. McDonald's is pausing the test in 10 Midwest locations to "recalibrate."