Part 7/12:
Given the size of the fast food industry in the U.S.—with around 215,000 locations employing approximately 23 workers each, totaling about 5 million jobs—the implications of widespread AI adoption are staggering. If automation replaces just five full-time positions per location, roughly 1 million jobs could be lost nationwide, representing about 21% of the fast food workforce.
Rob's projections suggest that as these AI systems become more integrated and effective, a significant depletion of human roles is inevitable. These changes could happen rapidly, driven by the pursuit of cost savings, efficiency, and competitive advantage.