McDonald’s leaning on AI to help set menu prices feels like the start of something consumers are not going to love. I’m not anti-AI. Far from it. Businesses should absolutely use it when it improves operations, reduces waste, fixes staffing, or makes service faster. But pricing is where things get uncomfortable. McDonald’s has reportedly been encouraging more franchisees to use AI-driven pricing recommendations. The company says franchise owners still make the final decision, which is important. But the trend is clear: more data, more automation, more precision. And customers should be watching closely. Because once AI gets good at reading location, traffic, demand, local competition, buying habits, and price sensitivity, the real question becomes obvious: Will this make food more affordable? Or will it help companies identify the exact point where you complain, but still pay? That second version is what people are going to hate. Fast food has already gone from “cheap and easy” to “how is this combo $14?” Now add smarter pricing tools on top. If AI helps McDonald’s run better restaurants, great. But if the big breakthrough is squeezing an extra $1.37 out of lunch, don’t expect consumers to applaud.