The latest viral clip showing an AI-powered drive-thru meltdown has people wondering if the robots are already getting sick of us. A customer at Popeyes experienced a bizarre moment of digital silence after she dared to reject the machine’s suggestion for a warm apple pie. TikTok user Jennifer (@00.j3n) captured the interaction, which started out like any normal, modern fast-food order.
She asked for her main items, the machine confirmed them, and it even threw in suggestions, like asking if she wanted her food “with Cajun fries.” Everything was proceeding smoothly until the AI went in for the upsell. It asked Jennifer, “Got any room for apple pie?” per Bro Bible.
When Jennifer responded with a simple, “Nope,” the system went completely silent for a noticeable duration. After Jennifer reiterated her rejection, the machine snapped back with a notably flat and almost disappointed order: “Please show your coupon at the window.” I mean, wow. It seriously sounds like the AI took that refusal personally!
AI seemed to get mad that it couldn’t upsale a customer
The video quickly racked up over 184,000 views, and commenters immediately started diagnosing the robot’s sudden mood swing. Users were quick to claim the AI was offended or frustrated that Jennifer went “off script.” Jennifer herself commented that while the AI was generally cordial, it was absolutely clear that “he was done with the convo after the ‘no’” regarding the pie. That long pause is just brutal; it’s like the machine gave her a digital eye roll before slamming the window shut.
This kind of incident really highlights the growing pains of AI adoption in the fast-food space. Companies are pushing this tech because one of the supposed benefits is that customers won’t have to deal with difficult human employees. However, if the computer itself starts throwing shade, what’s the point? We’ve already seen a rough rollout across the industry.
Some managers think people are entitled, but an AI giving an attitude just because you said no is entitlement. This isn’t why people prefer to use KFC to fake their cooking, but I’d rather speak to a human at KFC than an AI at Popeye’s.
Even with the alleged ‘tude about the apple pie, some viewers were genuinely impressed by the overall experience. One user commented that they’d probably visit Popeyes more often because of the automation. Another user added that this was the first video they’d seen where the AI actually responded “semi-normally instead of taking 6-8 business days to reply.” That’s a huge compliment for drive-thru tech, honestly. While some people worry about ordering from a “f—ing robot” when they’re rushing to work, I think speed and consistency are the real selling points if they can just fix the emotional issues.
For those wondering who’s behind the tech, Popeyes started rolling out AI in the United Kingdom back in 2024 using the Israeli company Hi Auto. In the United States, some locations have tested a system powered by TORI, based in Boston, but it’s still unclear which company is currently running the show at Jennifer’s location. We’ll have to keep watching to see if these digital employees learn to control their emotions better when their suggestions are rejected.
Published: Jan 6, 2026 07:46 am