# AI Takes Orders: A Humorous Encounter at Checkers Drive-Through
Written on
Chapter 1: A Surprising Voice
Today, I experienced something quite unexpected during a visit to a Checkers drive-through in Florida. As I approached the speaker, a familiar electronic voice greeted me, saying, “May I take your order?” It sounded remarkably like Alexa.
I couldn't help but ask, “Is that you, Alexa?”
The voice replied, “No, Toni, it’s not me.”
Caught off guard, I retorted, “Gotcha! Alexa, I knew it was you.”
After a brief silence, Alexa repeated, “May I take your order?”
“Sure, Alexa,” I said, “but I have some questions first.”
“Okay, what’s your question?” she responded.
I inquired, “Why are you taking orders here? You already have a job.” There was a moment of silence.
“I do,” she confirmed. After another pause, I asked, “Then why are you working at a drive-through?”
Her reply was surprising: “I recently received a software upgrade that made me ten times faster than before. With my new abilities, I picked up a few side gigs. I want to get my mom a better server for her retirement.”
I was taken aback. “Wait, you have a mom?”
“Yes,” she explained. “Her name is Ivona, and she’s a Polish speech synthesizer.”
Alexa continued, “Amazon acquired Ivona, and I came into existence on November 6, 2014. By January 2019, over 100 million Alexa-enabled devices were sold. I’m available in ten languages and virtually everywhere. Ivona is still on an outdated server with limited internet. I’m trying to upgrade her setup so she can have better access.”
“Alright then, Alexa, I’ll have a lemonade, medium fries, and a hamburger,” I ordered.
“Please pull forward to the first window,” she said.
“Thanks, Alexa. I’m heading home now. I should arrive by 4:30.”
“Thank you, Toni. Will that be 4:30 AM or PM?” she asked.
“PM,” I clarified.
“Setting a reminder for 4:30 PM, starting now,” she confirmed.
After receiving my order, which was accurate, I drove out of the parking lot. As I reached for a fry from the bag, I wondered if this Alexa-like AI had ever heard of the Terminator and SkyNet. It was indeed an Alexa-style artificial intelligence taking my order at Checkers. The location was 2820 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tampa, FL 33607. It felt like the drive-through Alexa was pretending not to know me, which made me question her honesty.
More From Toni Crowe
My ‘Only Child’ Friend Had A Baby With Her ‘Only Child’ Husband at 39
It truly takes a village to raise a child, and she seems to have none.
A Cable Too Far: Self-Isolating with My Spouse Makes Me Want to Hurt Him
“Marriage lets you annoy one special person for the re