AI at the Order Window: How McDonald's and Others Are Innovating to Cut Costs

Major fast food chains like McDonald's, Yum Brands, and Wendy's are testing artificial intelligence technologies for drive-thru ordering to help lower labor costs. This year, 16% of restaurant operators, primarily from large chains with sufficient capital, plan to invest in artificial intelligence technologies like voice recognition, according to the National Restaurant Association. While the technology aims to speed up orders and increase profits, challenges remain around network connectivity, noise interference, and comprehending long menus. Accuracy and understanding varied accents and dialects fully remain a hurdle for AI to become widely used for drive-thru ordering currently.