mcdonald's drive-thru ai upgrade posts that claimed the chain added a $1 surcharge are false, the company told News10NBC, and a reporter found no signs of such a fee at local restaurants.
News10NBC reporter Brett Davidsen visited several McDonald's locations and said he could not find any posted notices adding a drive-thru surcharge, and he contacted the chain's corporate office in Chicago for confirmation.
McDonald's press office replied, This is fake, according to Davidsen, and the images circulating on social media appear to have been created by artificial intelligence, the reporter added.
Davidsen noted anomalies in one image, including a misspelling of the word surcharge and what looked like a car crashed into a building, which suggested the pictures were not authentic photographs.
Social media posts this week showed a sign that said a fee would be added to customers' receipts, and one post claimed the change aimed to encourage dining inside to cut peak wait times.
Davidsen also spoke with customers about whether a $1 charge would change their behavior, and quotes he reported show strong resistance to paying extra for drive-thru service.
Bruce Wilcox told the reporter he would stop using the drive-thru and would not pay extra for food he had already purchased, and Maria Ortiz said higher costs would likely deter her from using the drive-thru.
Company Plans And Context
McDonald's corporate website says drive-thru sales make up roughly 70 percent of its business, a figure the company uses to explain why the channel remains central to operations.
As part of its growth strategy for 2026, McDonald's says it is exploring ways to improve service and cut wait times, and that work includes testing an AI-powered drive-thru assistant to speed ordering.
The company did not announce any pricing changes, and corporate statements obtained by Davidsen framed the viral sign and surcharge claims as fabricated and not company policy.
The reporter's verification and the company's denial together show the online claim of a drive-thru surcharge is unfounded, while the firm continues to test technology to improve service.
