Latest news with #HungryJack's
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Millions of Aussies warned as Hungry Jack's makes major drive-thru change: 'Disappear'
An artificial intelligence expert has warned Aussie fast-food workers their jobs may 'disappear' within the next 10 years. Fast-food chain Hungry Jack's is trialling the use of AI drive-thru assistants, leaving many to question where that leaves young people looking for casual jobs. Hungry Jack's has introduced a new 'digital voice-activated customer ordering system' at its St Peters store in Sydney. A spokesperson told Yahoo Finance it anticipated the trial would be rolled out to additional restaurants in the coming months. Niusha Shafiabady, associate professor in computational intelligence at Australian Catholic University, told Yahoo Finance retail jobs were 'very likely' to change in the near future as AI becomes more and more common. RELATED Gen Z job warning as new AI trend set to destroy 80 per cent of influencer industry Tradie reveals surprising industry where he makes '$300,000 to a million' a year Right to disconnect warning as worker sues former employer for $800,000 "At this stage, people are preparing our food, in the future robots will be preparing our food," she said. 'I would anticipate with the work that Elon Musk is doing in developing humanoid robots that even within the next 10 years people wouldn't be preparing our food. 'Those entry-level fast food jobs might disappear.' KFC also trialled AI drive-thru technology at selected Sydney stores last year, but stressed it wasn't replacing any jobs. Restaurants in the United States have also trialled AI software, with major chains like Wendy's, McDonald's, Chipotle, Domino's and Taco Bell among those signing contracts with tech providers. Shafiabady said the move allowed businesses to save money and would reduce wait times, along with increasing their order accuracy. A Hungry Jack's spokesperson told Yahoo Finance it's trial aimed to determine the effectiveness of the AI-powered technology to deliver "service improvements". Some customers have shared their confusion over the trial, with one calling it "scary" and others even threatening to "boycott" the chain over the move. Shafiabady said the technology might not go down well with customers initially. 'People at this stage might feel uncomfortable dealing with technology and they do not really trust the technology, but I would imagine that would be temporary,' she said. 'Even if they lose some of their customers in the beginning, people would get used to the technology. 'If you recall the first time that generative AI tools came to the market, like ChatGPT, people were not really comfortable using it. But now everybody's using them.' Shafiabady also flagged the potential risk of cyber attacks in the future. Bank tellers, cashiers, postal workers and administrative assistants are among the jobs forecast to drop by 2030, according to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report. The Forum has estimated 170 million new jobs will be created in this decade, but this will be offset by the loss of 92 million jobs, leaving a net growth of 78 million by 2030. Shafiabady said jobs that involved performing repetitive tasks were the ones that would be displaced 'relatively quickly'. 'The first level of jobs that are at danger are the secretarial roles because you can have softwares that does the same thing for people,' she said. 'With the generative AI algorithms and tools that have become available, the tasks and jobs that are associated with them are at risk too. For example, translation. If someone was an interpreter their job would be at risk.' Shafiabady said she expects some technician-level jobs will also be overtaken in the future where their job involves working with a machine and analysing something. A number of Australians have raised concerns about replacing fast-food workers with AI. 'Goodbye to teenagers who need casual jobs,' one wrote. 'How will kids get job experience with these jobs being replaced?' another asked. 'You can't convince me all this investment in AI is cheaper than paying real wages,' another said. Shafiabady said it was important for young people to understand there would be fewer entry-level jobs in the future. 'Businesses are going to restructure their roles and focus on high-value tasks rather than entry-level jobs,' she said. But she said the rise of AI would open up new job opportunities, with specialists in automation, cybersecurity experts and those able to work with and analyse data expected to be needed. 'That's the reality. The types of jobs of the future will be different from the types of jobs that we have had now, and we have had before,' she said. 'If you look back hundreds of years ago, the types of jobs were different, so we are evolving and the types of jobs will be changing.'Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
‘That's so scary': Customer left shocked over AI drive thru
A shocked Aussie was left dumbfounded after going through a Hungry Jack's drive thru, only to be given an unexpected greeting. The popular food chain recently introduced a trial of Artificial Intelligence voice assistants to take people's orders at the drive thru. The fast food customer took to Tiktok, posting to his popular account pnuks, documenting his unexpected interaction while attempting to order a meal - with the video accumulating more than 750,000 views since yesterday. As he is ready to place an order, a screen with a female voice asks the driver 'what can I get you?' The clearly taken aback customer asks 'Are you AI?' and is responded to with 'I'm Hungry Jacks virtual helper, how can I help you.' 'That's so cooked,' the shocked Aussie said under his breath before placing his order. 'Can I get a large ultimate double whopper meal,' he said. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. 'Did you want double whopper,' the virtual assistant responded. 'Yes a large ultimate double whopper,' the customer clarified. The exchange carried on normally as the he ordered the meal and was told to drive through - prompting the Tiktoker to say 'God that's so scary.' He posted the video with the caption '(Rest in peace) teenagers wanting a job at Hungry Jacks', voicing concern for job safety as the pending fear of AI replacing workers continues to grow. It was a sentiment shared by the 1000+ comments on the video, with little showing support for the virtual helper. 'Goodbye to teenagers who need casual jobs,' one comment said. 'How will kids get job experience with these jobs being replaced?,' another concerned viewer wrote. 'People with accents we are going to have a hard time with this! Even my Siri struggles to understand me!,' someone else noted. 'Why is it so rude, the fact that teenagers are friendlier than an AI is insane,' another wrote. The customer was left shocked after this new feature. Credit: pnuks / Tiktok 'In a cost of living crisis house prices through the roof and now we fighting against AI technology in which thousands of jobs will be lost,' a viewer pointed out. While initially served by AI, customers can request to speak to an employee instead. KFC trailed a similar system 'voice ordering technology' at five of their restaurants in Sydney which was set to be a trial period as well but is still currently in use. The use of AI at fast food restaurants may be relatively new to Australia, but something that the States have been incorporating for a while now, and people have taken advantage of its short comings. The trend saw customers place ridiculous orders to try and beat the technology, with employees often having to overrule the orders.
Sydney Morning Herald
25-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Nutella is the king of spreads. But a challenger is eyeing its throne
Australia is one among several other international markets that must jostle for attention with global HQ to bring innovations Down Under. But some items recently introduced to Australian cafes, such as frozen muffins and frozen croissants with a Nutella centre, are far and away from what younger consumers – driven increasingly by TikTok recommendations and viral recipes – are hungry for. While Nutella boasts the enviable status of being a staple in pantries and kitchens across the globe, it has not been the most visible. Recently, Belgian multinational Lotus Bakeries' caramel and cinnamon-spiced biscuit and spread, Biscoff, has been prolific in appearing before consumers, who seem to be responding enthusiastically. It has partnered with global and local food chains and national supermarkets to insert the flavour into drinks and desserts at McDonald's (Biscoff McFlurry) and Hungry Jack's (Biscoff Storm sold out twice); released Biscoff cheesecakes, hot cross buns and trifles with Woolworths; donuts with Coles; mousses with Aldi; drinks with local chains Gloria Jean's; and cinnamon buns at Brumby's Bakeries. Melbourne food blogger Nick Vavitis' cheesecake cookie pie with Biscoff has just landed at fast-growing frozen yoghurt chain Yo-Chi. Biscoff has been so active that some Reddit users have swapped notes on their observations. Google Trends data indicates local web searches for Nutella outstripped Biscoff for decades until mid-2023. 'We saw that in many countries ... bringing the Biscoff taste in a spreadable form opened complete new dynamics into the category of spreadables,' said Bart Bauwens, general manager of international distribution at Lotus Bakeries. 'We see a massive explosion of our business in the Middle East, driven by spreads. We see the same in Australia. We see the same in Asia,' he said. 'It opens up a new potential for us … it's not only spreading on bread during breakfast or midday, but also on pancakes, in drinks, in cakes.' A 2018 partnership with local distributor Stuart Alexander, which also distributes for Hershey's, Reese's, Guylian and Chupa Chups, marked a 'breakthrough' turning point for Biscoff's presence in Australia, said Bauwens. Nutella has its own partnerships and activations, such as a high tea with hotel chain Hyatt, a promotion with kitchen appliance maker De'Longhi, limited edition Nutella Oodies, and a recent one-day cafe pop-up at Caffe Gigi in Sydney's Circular Quay. Retail Doctor founder Brian Walker said Biscoff poses a challenge to Nutella's more 'conservative approach' to partnerships and innovation by tapping into a younger generation who resonate with 'co-created and experiential brand moments'. 'Biscoff has become a breakout success with Gen Z through high-impact social media virality – think TikTok recipes, dessert hacks, and visually engaging food content. It's also partnered locally with a range of foodservice and retail brands, embedding itself in everything from ice-creams to bubble teas,' Walker said. 'At the core, this story is about the shift from scale to speed, and from traditional brand authority to community-driven discovery. 'It raises important questions about how long-established brands can stay relevant in a landscape where consumers want to participate in the brand narrative, not just consume it.' Could Biscoff be the next Nutella? Bauwens says it isn't an ambition of Lotus Bakeries, which has its sights set on becoming the world's No.3 cookie. And is Nutella worried? 'Not really,' said Ferrero's Puricelli. 'The size of Nutella, but also the type of investment, the marketing behind Nutella, is so strong.' She acknowledged that Biscoff were very active. 'Of course, they are much smaller,' she said. Ferrero, a private family company, reported turnover of €18.4 billion ($32.4 billion) for the 2024 financial year, growth of 8.9 per cent. Its sales dwarf that of Lotus Bakeries', listed on the Euronext Brussels stock exchange, which notched €1.23 billion ($2.2 billion) in turnover for the same year. But Biscoff's parent company is growing at nearly twice the rate (16 per cent).
The Age
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Nutella is the king of spreads. But a challenger is eyeing its throne
Australia is one among several other international markets that must jostle for attention with global HQ to bring innovations Down Under. But some items recently introduced to Australian cafes, such as frozen muffins and frozen croissants with a Nutella centre, are far and away from what younger consumers – driven increasingly by TikTok recommendations and viral recipes – are hungry for. While Nutella boasts the enviable status of being a staple in pantries and kitchens across the globe, it has not been the most visible. Recently, Belgian multinational Lotus Bakeries' caramel and cinnamon-spiced biscuit and spread, Biscoff, has been prolific in appearing before consumers, who seem to be responding enthusiastically. It has partnered with global and local food chains and national supermarkets to insert the flavour into drinks and desserts at McDonald's (Biscoff McFlurry) and Hungry Jack's (Biscoff Storm sold out twice); released Biscoff cheesecakes, hot cross buns and trifles with Woolworths; donuts with Coles; mousses with Aldi; drinks with local chains Gloria Jean's; and cinnamon buns at Brumby's Bakeries. Melbourne food blogger Nick Vavitis' cheesecake cookie pie with Biscoff has just landed at fast-growing frozen yoghurt chain Yo-Chi. Biscoff has been so active that some Reddit users have swapped notes on their observations. Google Trends data indicates local web searches for Nutella outstripped Biscoff for decades until mid-2023. 'We saw that in many countries ... bringing the Biscoff taste in a spreadable form opened complete new dynamics into the category of spreadables,' said Bart Bauwens, general manager of international distribution at Lotus Bakeries. 'We see a massive explosion of our business in the Middle East, driven by spreads. We see the same in Australia. We see the same in Asia,' he said. 'It opens up a new potential for us … it's not only spreading on bread during breakfast or midday, but also on pancakes, in drinks, in cakes.' A 2018 partnership with local distributor Stuart Alexander, which also distributes for Hershey's, Reese's, Guylian and Chupa Chups, marked a 'breakthrough' turning point for Biscoff's presence in Australia, said Bauwens. Nutella has its own partnerships and activations, such as a high tea with hotel chain Hyatt, a promotion with kitchen appliance maker De'Longhi, limited edition Nutella Oodies, and a recent one-day cafe pop-up at Caffe Gigi in Sydney's Circular Quay. Retail Doctor founder Brian Walker said Biscoff poses a challenge to Nutella's more 'conservative approach' to partnerships and innovation by tapping into a younger generation who resonate with 'co-created and experiential brand moments'. 'Biscoff has become a breakout success with Gen Z through high-impact social media virality – think TikTok recipes, dessert hacks, and visually engaging food content. It's also partnered locally with a range of foodservice and retail brands, embedding itself in everything from ice-creams to bubble teas,' Walker said. 'At the core, this story is about the shift from scale to speed, and from traditional brand authority to community-driven discovery. 'It raises important questions about how long-established brands can stay relevant in a landscape where consumers want to participate in the brand narrative, not just consume it.' Could Biscoff be the next Nutella? Bauwens says it isn't an ambition of Lotus Bakeries, which has its sights set on becoming the world's No.3 cookie. And is Nutella worried? 'Not really,' said Ferrero's Puricelli. 'The size of Nutella, but also the type of investment, the marketing behind Nutella, is so strong.' She acknowledged that Biscoff were very active. 'Of course, they are much smaller,' she said. Ferrero, a private family company, reported turnover of €18.4 billion ($32.4 billion) for the 2024 financial year, growth of 8.9 per cent. Its sales dwarf that of Lotus Bakeries', listed on the Euronext Brussels stock exchange, which notched €1.23 billion ($2.2 billion) in turnover for the same year. But Biscoff's parent company is growing at nearly twice the rate (16 per cent).
7NEWS
06-05-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Hungry Jack's fined $150,000 over Garfield toy included in children's meals that did not have safety warning
Hungry Jack's has paid $150,000 in penalties over a button battery-powered Garfield toy it allegedly served without the proper safety warnings. The fast-food giant gave away close to 28,000 of the plastic 'Burping Garfield' toys with its children's meals sold nationwide between May 20 and May 30 last year. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said the toy itself met safety standards but alleged customers were not warned they contained 'dangerous' button batteries nor given advice about what to do if a child ingested one. Hungry Jack's was issued with eight infringement notices for alleged breaches of Australian consumer law. The consumer watchdog said it had since accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from Hungry Jack's 'in which it admitted the Garfield toy is likely to have failed to comply with the button battery information standard'. The ACCC said button batteries can result in 'catastrophic injuries and even death in as little as two hours' if swallowed. 'Button batteries are extremely dangerous for young children and, tragically, children have been seriously injured or died from swallowing or ingesting them,' ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said. 'The ACCC continues to see non-compliant products on the market which pose unacceptable safety risks to vulnerable young children. 'We take non-compliance with these important standards seriously and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where appropriate.' The fast-food chain has recalled the toy and consumers can return it for a replacement which does not contain a battery. 'Hungry Jack's implemented immediate steps to stop distribution, issue a product recall and address the situation with the supplier and the appropriate authorities,' Hungry Jack's told in a statement. The ACCC has kept up the charge to ensure button battery standards are maintained. In April it was revealed it had taken popular surf and skate retailer City Beach to court over the alleged sale and supply of close to 60,000 non-compliant products including toys, mini games and digital notepads. Tesla, Repco, Supercheap Auto, The Reject Shop and Dusk have copped big penalties in the last two years following probes by the watchdog.
