With artificial intelligence (AI) stepping into fast food operations, expect voice assistants taking your order or getting menu suggestions based on the drive-thru traffic. The truth is, fast food isn’t just fast anymore; it’s smart. These 10 fast food chains are bringing tech to the table and leading the futuristic change.
10. Burger King
If you ever felt impressed by the suggested menu items from Burger King, you have to thank AI for that. The chain partnered with Intel to create an AI-driven recommendation system that predicts whether a customer will order a hot or cold drink or a large or light meal. The system uses real-time data, like location and weather, to make suggestions. In other countries like the UK, the chain has introduced AI-powered voice ordering.
9. Panera Bread
Panera Bread has worked closely with Amazon to teach Alexa its menu. The result? MyPanera Members can use Amazon Alexa on Echo Show devices when they order for pick-up or delivery. In 2022, Panera also began testing an AI-voice assistant named “Tori” in Webster and Greece in upstate New York. Tori can take orders at the drive-thru speaker, helping improve order accuracy and reduce waiting time.
8. Chick-fil-A
While Chick-fil-A primarily uses AI in behind-the-scenes operations, it has made a positive impact on the brand’s quick service. They use robotics and machine learning to manage supply chain, which serves over 3,000 locations. With AI, Chick-fil-A can predict demand and avoid shortages. The brand also explored using AI-powered kitchen assistants to ensure consistent food quality every time.
7. Sweetgreen
Sweetgreen is taking it up a notch with the “Infinite Kitchen,” which is an automated assembly line that prepares bowls and salads with high precision. In one location (The Penn Plaza), it produced almost 200 bowls in just 30 minutes with 100% on-time reliability. Outside the kitchen, the brand also uses AI to predict ingredient demand, ensuring that popular items are always in stock and fresh.
6. Starbucks
Starbucks uses two notable AI-driven initiatives. First, the Deep Brew platform. This platform suggests drink and food options to customers based on factors like purchase history and time of day. It can also forecast inventory needs and assist in labor scheduling. The second one is the AI-powered chatbot (My Starbucks Barista), which mimics in-store interactions, allowing you to place orders on the mobile app via voice or text.
5. Chipotle
As early as 2018, Chipotle started modernizing its ordering system. The brand uses an AI-driven voice assistant for phone orders, and it can understand customizations, too! In the kitchen, Chipotle uses “Autocado,” a system that can cut, core, and peel avocados in less than 30 seconds. The brand really said those weren’t enough because recently, they invested in an AI supply chain platform to ensure food safety and reduce waste.
4. Domino’s
Domino’s is one of the pioneers of using AI to enhance customer experience and they started by bringing “Dom” to life, an AI-driven voice assistant. The AI uses a human-like and regionally relatable voice, which reduced customers’ resistance to interacting with the system. Now, Dom can handle about 80% of phone orders across North America, and you can also find him as a chatbot on Domino’s website and mobile app.
3. White Castle
In 2020, White Castle introduced “Julia,” an AI voice assistant that automates drive-thru ordering. Since the testing began, she has been deployed in multiple locations, with plans to expand the tech to over 100 drive-thru lanes. Julia can process orders within 60 seconds, with a 90% completion rate. The chain also uses Flippy, a robotic fry cook that automates the preparation of fried items.
2. Wendy’s
Meanwhile, Wendy’s has partnered with Google Cloud to develop “FreshAI.” This generative AI system revolutionizes the drive-thru experience as it understands slang and casual language, like JBC for Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger and Biggie Bag for combo meals. The system has shown nearly 99% success rate in processing orders and 86% in order completion without human intervention.
1. Yum! Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell)
Yum is set to roll out cutting-edge AI tools in over 61,000 restaurants, in partnership with NVIDIA. Pizza Hut and Taco Bell locations are already testing AI ordering systems that can interpret customer speech, even those with heavy accents. NVIDIA’s computer vision tools are also being used to monitor drive-thru traffic and suggest menu items with the quickest preparation times. The future of fast food is indeed looking fast!