AI-powered self-service company Presto Automation described itself as “one of the industry's largest providers of labor automation technology” and boasted of its ability to increase sales and “save” human labor time. . But according to recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, outside human workers are stepping in and completing more than 70 percent of orders. Even though the company's branding and marketing suggest magical vehicle technology, Presto Automation uses workers in places like the Philippines, according to Bloomberg . AI self-service technology is used by fast food restaurants including Carl's Jr., Hardee's, Del Taco and Checkers across the country, and promises to reduce labor costs and increase revenue for the chains.
The Presto Voice product is supposed to use artificial Luxembourg Mobile Number List intelligence to receive customer orders. There is a pattern of AI “solutions” that actually end up being contractors Bloomberg reports that the SEC notified Presto Automation earlier this year that it was under investigation "with respect to certain aspects of its artificial intelligence technology." Presto Automation did not immediately respond to a request for comment. There is a pattern of AI “solutions” actually ending up being contractors working in countries with lower labor costs, and AI companies often go to great lengths to hide this fact. An online shopping app called Nate, popular with influencers and content creators, said it used artificial intelligence to automatically fill in customers' payment details.
But it was revealed that the company had hired workers in the Philippines to fill orders manually in most cases. Other startups have similarly marketed human labor as “AI.” In a previous Bloomberg report testing the technology at a Del Taco restaurant, an executive with the restaurant chain told the outlet that Presto reduced the kitchen team's order handling by about 70 percent. Interesting! The restaurant industry's experiments with AI have raised fears about how staff could be replaced by their robot co-workers. But in this case, labor substitution does not depend on AI at all: companies just need labor elsewhere that they can hire at a cheaper price.