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Today’s Menu

• McDonald's Rolls Out AI-Powered Restaurants in Global Tech Overhaul

• Bitcoin Stabilizes Above $81,000 Ahead of Key Inflation Report

Markets

TODAY IN AI

McDonald's Rolls Out AI-Powered Restaurants in Global Tech Overhaul

McDonald's is integrating AI across its 43,000 locations, leveraging Google Cloud’s edge computing to improve everything from equipment maintenance to order accuracy. The new AI-driven systems will enable real-time data processing in-store, allowing for predictive maintenance, computer vision for quality control, and even a “generative AI virtual manager” to assist employees.

The initiative aims to tackle common customer frustrations, particularly as restaurants handle increasing order volumes from drive-throughs, mobile apps, and delivery services. AI will also help McDonald's personalize promotions based on customer purchase history, such as offering McFlurry discounts on particularly hot days.

With 70 million daily customers, McDonald's move toward AI-driven operations is likely to set a precedent for the fast-food industry. As competitors like Taco Bell and Wendy’s experiment with similar AI solutions, automation in quick-service restaurants may soon become the norm rather than the exception.

^{Today In Crypto}

Bitcoin Stabilizes Above $81,000 Ahead of Key Inflation Report

Bitcoin is staging a recovery above $81,000, but the market remains cautious ahead of tomorrow’s U.S. inflation report. The rebound is being led by layer-1 and layer-2 tokens, with gaming coins also seeing renewed interest. While the worst of the recent downturn may be behind us, broader market signals suggest this recovery is far from stable.

Wall Street’s volatility index (VIX) has flipped into rare positive territory, indicating that traders anticipate greater short-term turbulence than long-term. A similar pattern has emerged in bitcoin’s volatility metrics, reflecting ongoing uncertainty. Marex Solutions’ Ilan Solot noted that while this could indicate peak fear, sentiment remains fragile.

Meanwhile, the yen’s recent strength may be nearing exhaustion, potentially providing relief to risk assets like bitcoin. However, inflation expectations remain a critical factor. The Truflation Index, which tracks real-time inflation across millions of data points, has dropped to 1.35%, reinforcing hopes for a Federal Reserve rate cut in June.

Tomorrow’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report will be a pivotal event. A lower-than-expected reading could drive renewed risk-on sentiment, but Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has signaled the central bank is awaiting further clarity on President Trump’s economic policies before making any adjustments. Should inflation come in higher than expected, bitcoin may surrender recent gains, with some analysts predicting a decline toward the $74,000 range.

“A bearish pattern persists on the daily charts, signaling stronger selling pressure after failing to hold above the 200-day moving average,” warned FxPro’s Alex Kuptsikevich. If CPI data disappoints, this could trigger another downturn in bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market. Market participants should remain vigilant.

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Until next time,

Damon James