Would you like your large fries with a side of AI? McDonald’sMCD

has been trying to find out for the last few months. The fast-food titan partnered with IBMIBM

to test artificial intelligence order-taking at 100 US locations. Despite the success, the company is undoing the effort — and looking for a new partner.

• McDonald’s management told analysts, “A voice-ordering solution for drive-thru will be part of our restaurants’ future” as they plan to wind down the current AI by Jul. 26.
• Given their past collaborations, McDonald’s may consider expanding its partnership with GoogleGOOG
  or exploring other options like SoundHoundSOUN
  , which has built similar products for competing chains.

Race to replace: Labor costs have soared in the fast-food industry, exasperated by California’s new minimum wage law setting a $20 per hour minimum for fast-food workers. This has driven companies to look for ways to automate simpler tasks. Ordering is one of these tasks, with competitors like Wendy’sWEN

and White Castle also embracing AI — but in some cases, the “robot” taking your order might just be outsourced workers.