Presto Voice, along with its drive-through technology, was reported to have autonomously processed over 95% of orders without human intervention in August. Fast forward four months, and the company now asserts that its drive-through technology handles up to 95% of push-through purchases without any direct involvement from restaurant staff.
As per a Bloomberg report on Thursday, Presto relies on remote workers based in the Philippines to oversee transactions, indicating a shift in operational procedures. While there is ongoing discourse on the capabilities of advanced AI systems, Presto’s case highlights the current limitations in fully replacing fast food service personnel. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is conducting an investigation into Presto regarding the transparency of its AI system disclosures.
Despite inquiries from Gizmodo, Presto has yet to provide a response to the queries.
In a significant development in March, Presto unveiled a collaboration with OpenAI and secured additional funding from CEO Sam Altman. The company’s drive-through systems, which have raised skepticism, utilize ChatGPT to construct comprehensive menu databases, train Presto Voice on customer orders, and generate more human-like AI interactions. Rajat Suri, the founder and former CEO of Presto, lauded ChatGPT and Presto Voice as cutting-edge AI applications. However, there are indications that the technology still relies on human oversight for financial transactions.
Shortly after announcing the partnership with OpenAI, Rajat Suri stepped down as CEO, signaling potential challenges ahead. The current CEO of Presto emphasizes the necessity of human intervention to ensure accuracy, casting doubt on the autonomy of Presto Voice. This assertion was made public during a recent earnings call.
Presto’s ambitious portrayal of AI capabilities serves as a cautionary tale for other AI-focused enterprises that make bold predictions about the technology’s potential. The case of Presto underscores the importance for companies to remain at the forefront of innovation, potentially leading to instances where capabilities may be overstated, akin to Google’s overestimation of Gemini. Ultimately, Presto’s experience underscores that while AI holds immense promise, complete automation in certain roles remains a distant prospect.
