‘God, that’s so scary’: Would you trust AI to take your fast food order?
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Technology is transforming everyday experiences in ways that can feel equal parts impressive and unsettling.
One fast food visit in Sydney recently took a surprising turn, leaving a customer both amused and unnerved.
What unfolded next has sparked a mix of fascination, concern, and plenty of online debate.
A routine trip to grab a bite ended up feeling more like a scene from a sci-fi film than a typical fast food run—and one unsuspecting customer had the footage to prove it.
The man, who visited a Hungry Jack’s drive-through in Sydney, was left stunned when his order was taken not by a human but by a virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence. He shared the surreal experience on social media, where the clip quickly gained traction, attracting nearly 400,000 views.
The video opened with a digital voice greeting him: ‘What can I get you?’ The voice was female, clear, and unmistakably artificial. Caught off guard, the driver asked: ‘Are you AI?’ prompting the reply: ‘I’m Hungry Jacks’ virtual helper.’
Reacting under his breath, he muttered: ‘That’s so cooked,’ but proceeded with his order—a large ultimate double whopper meal.
The AI system sought clarification: ‘Did you want double whopper?’ After confirming he wanted the large version of the meal, the robot replied: ‘Sure,’ and asked if he’d like Coke with it.
‘Oh God no,’ he answered quickly. Instead, he requested an orange juice with no ice, followed by an additional cheeseburger.
The AI wrapped up the order by asking if he needed anything else, then displayed the total bill and directed him to the next window.
‘God, that’s so scary,’ the man said as he ended the recording, later adding in the caption: ‘They just installed this last week.’
Hungry Jack’s confirmed the technology was part of a limited rollout. In a statement, the company said: ‘Hungry Jack’s is trialling a new digital voice-activated customer ordering system at the St Peters restaurant drive-through. The test aims to determine the effectiveness of the technology in delivering service improvements. Customer feedback will be sought during the trial period. It is anticipated that the trial will be rolled out to additional restaurants in the coming months.’
Source: TikTok/pnuks
Reactions on social media ranged from fascinated to downright fearful.
One commenter wrote: ‘I’m turning into a boomer and driving straight to the window because absolutely not am I doing that.’ Another declared: ‘We are doomed.’
There were concerns beyond the novelty factor. Several people flagged issues with accessibility. ‘People with accents, we are going to have a hard time with this! Even Siri struggles to understand me,’ one said.
Some also took issue with the AI’s perceived tone. ‘It’s so slow!’ one person complained. Another asked: ‘Why is it so rude?’ while someone else added: ‘It’s so passive aggressive with the “okay”.’
Still, not everyone was against the innovation. A few praised the assistant’s manner, with one noting: ‘I like that she didn’t rush you.’ Another commented that fewer staff might be needed overnight thanks to the system.
The Hungry Jack’s trial wasn’t the only fast food experiment with AI in Australia.
KFC had previously tested its own version of an AI assistant named Kacy at five restaurants across the country, including South Penrith, Wetherill Park, Mt Druitt, Minto and Frenchs Forest. The company assured that no jobs were being lost in the process. Kacy, it seems, was still active according to TikTok users.
In a similar move, Oliver’s—the health-conscious fast food chain—introduced its AI assistant Ollie in October. The brand claimed it was the world’s first ‘contextually aware’ AI drive-through order taker, designed to handle unscripted conversations and diverse accents.
However, the rollout of AI in fast food hasn’t been without hiccups.
McDonald’s halted its trial of AI drive-through assistants across 100 US locations in July last year. Though no official reason was provided, reports pointed to a string of bizarre mishaps. Diners received items they never ordered—like nine sweet teas or, in one baffling case, an ice cream cone topped with bacon.
With AI quietly stepping behind the drive-through window, it remains to be seen whether the future of fast food is efficient...or just unsettling.
Want to see how far the fast food industry is pushing the tech envelope? This video breaks down what’s really happening behind the drive-through speaker.
Watch the full report below.
Source: Youtube/NBC News
As AI continues to reshape how we order our food, do you think this technology will make the experience better or more frustrating? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
One fast food visit in Sydney recently took a surprising turn, leaving a customer both amused and unnerved.
What unfolded next has sparked a mix of fascination, concern, and plenty of online debate.
A routine trip to grab a bite ended up feeling more like a scene from a sci-fi film than a typical fast food run—and one unsuspecting customer had the footage to prove it.
The man, who visited a Hungry Jack’s drive-through in Sydney, was left stunned when his order was taken not by a human but by a virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence. He shared the surreal experience on social media, where the clip quickly gained traction, attracting nearly 400,000 views.
The video opened with a digital voice greeting him: ‘What can I get you?’ The voice was female, clear, and unmistakably artificial. Caught off guard, the driver asked: ‘Are you AI?’ prompting the reply: ‘I’m Hungry Jacks’ virtual helper.’
AI takes drive-through order at Hungry Jack’s. Image source: TikTok/pnuks
Reacting under his breath, he muttered: ‘That’s so cooked,’ but proceeded with his order—a large ultimate double whopper meal.
The AI system sought clarification: ‘Did you want double whopper?’ After confirming he wanted the large version of the meal, the robot replied: ‘Sure,’ and asked if he’d like Coke with it.
‘Oh God no,’ he answered quickly. Instead, he requested an orange juice with no ice, followed by an additional cheeseburger.
The AI wrapped up the order by asking if he needed anything else, then displayed the total bill and directed him to the next window.
‘God, that’s so scary,’ the man said as he ended the recording, later adding in the caption: ‘They just installed this last week.’
Hungry Jack’s confirmed the technology was part of a limited rollout. In a statement, the company said: ‘Hungry Jack’s is trialling a new digital voice-activated customer ordering system at the St Peters restaurant drive-through. The test aims to determine the effectiveness of the technology in delivering service improvements. Customer feedback will be sought during the trial period. It is anticipated that the trial will be rolled out to additional restaurants in the coming months.’
Source: TikTok/pnuks
Reactions on social media ranged from fascinated to downright fearful.
One commenter wrote: ‘I’m turning into a boomer and driving straight to the window because absolutely not am I doing that.’ Another declared: ‘We are doomed.’
There were concerns beyond the novelty factor. Several people flagged issues with accessibility. ‘People with accents, we are going to have a hard time with this! Even Siri struggles to understand me,’ one said.
Some also took issue with the AI’s perceived tone. ‘It’s so slow!’ one person complained. Another asked: ‘Why is it so rude?’ while someone else added: ‘It’s so passive aggressive with the “okay”.’
Still, not everyone was against the innovation. A few praised the assistant’s manner, with one noting: ‘I like that she didn’t rush you.’ Another commented that fewer staff might be needed overnight thanks to the system.
The Hungry Jack’s trial wasn’t the only fast food experiment with AI in Australia.
KFC had previously tested its own version of an AI assistant named Kacy at five restaurants across the country, including South Penrith, Wetherill Park, Mt Druitt, Minto and Frenchs Forest. The company assured that no jobs were being lost in the process. Kacy, it seems, was still active according to TikTok users.
In a similar move, Oliver’s—the health-conscious fast food chain—introduced its AI assistant Ollie in October. The brand claimed it was the world’s first ‘contextually aware’ AI drive-through order taker, designed to handle unscripted conversations and diverse accents.
However, the rollout of AI in fast food hasn’t been without hiccups.
McDonald’s halted its trial of AI drive-through assistants across 100 US locations in July last year. Though no official reason was provided, reports pointed to a string of bizarre mishaps. Diners received items they never ordered—like nine sweet teas or, in one baffling case, an ice cream cone topped with bacon.
With AI quietly stepping behind the drive-through window, it remains to be seen whether the future of fast food is efficient...or just unsettling.
Want to see how far the fast food industry is pushing the tech envelope? This video breaks down what’s really happening behind the drive-through speaker.
Watch the full report below.
Source: Youtube/NBC News
As AI continues to reshape how we order our food, do you think this technology will make the experience better or more frustrating? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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