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Fast food giants are racing to integrate artificial intelligence into the ordering process, hoping it will reduce errors, speed up service and ease the burden on workers, according to multiple reports.
McDonald’s is among companies continuing efforts to overhaul drive-thru operations this year, introducing AI-based tools aimed at improving accuracy and efficiency.
“Frankly, our restaurants can be very stressful,” Brian Rice, McDonald’s chief information officer, said previously. The Wall Street Journal. “We have customers at the counter. We have customers at our drive-thru. Couriers come for delivery. Curbside delivery. It’s a lot for our team to handle.
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“Technological solutions will reduce stress,” he added.
Among McDonald’s most notable changes are AI-driven “precision scales,” designed to prevent incorrect orders.
Fast food chains are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and address staffing challenges. (iStock)
The chain plans to weigh each bag of food before handing it out to customers, according to Mashed. And if the weight doesn’t match the expected total for the ordered items, employees will be alerted to double-check the contents.
The burger chain also plans to expand its “Ready on Arrival” program, which uses mobile app geofencing – where a person’s phone alerts the restaurant that he or she is nearby — so the kitchen staff can start preparing orders in advance, the outlet also reported.
The technology is already in use in the United States, the company told Fox News Digital.
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During an earnings conference call in August, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said the program was rolling out in five of the six major markets, with the sixth expected later in the year.
“In the United States, restaurants offering Ready to Arrive service can reduce wait times for food pickup by more than 50% and, in many cases, eliminate them altogether,” Kempczinski said.
McDonald’s has also reportedly revived its efforts to use AI-based voice ordering, working with Google Cloud on chatbots that will allow customers to place orders, according to an earlier statement. The effort aims to reduce wait times and ease employee workloads amid an industry-wide staffing shortage.
Fast food chains have faced persistent staff shortages in recent years. Industry reports indicate that many restaurants are struggling with hiring and retention in a context of competition and rising costs.
McDonald’s is testing AI-powered tools aimed at improving order accuracy and easing pressure on workers. (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Pizza chain Papa Johns is making a similar move, announcing this month the launch of a voice and text system. AI Order Agent powered by Google’s Gemini platform.
The Atlanta-based company is the first restaurant brand to deploy Google Cloud’s new omnichannel food ordering solution, which will work across apps, websites, phone ordering, kiosks and in-vehicle systems, according to a press release.
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The AI agent will guide customers through complex group orders, suggest appropriate quantities and take into account food preferences and allergies, said Kevin Vasconi, Papa Johns’ chief digital and technology officer. Nation’s Restaurant News. The system can also apply offers, recognize loyalty accounts and quickly reorder past favorites.
Vasconi said the effort should “take the stress out of ordering.”
Papa Johns says its AI order agent can help customers place complex bulk orders. (Shelby Knowles/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Let’s say you need to order a pizza for your kid’s soccer team and you need to determine quantity, preferences, food allergies… the AI agent is designed to guide you through all of that,” Vasconi said. “One might ask, ‘How many people are on the football team?’ » then come back with suggestions.
If one of the children don’t like mushrooms, customers can just tell the robot, and it won’t include any in the order, Vasconi said.
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Initial tests of the new order agent have shown positive results, particularly in terms of order sizes and customer satisfaction, Vasconi told Fox News Digital.
Papa Johns told Fox News Digital that initial testing of the new order agent has been positive. (Papa Johns)
“Thanks to AI and personalization, food “The ordering agent brings back the feeling of being known – just like what you feel with your favorite bartender or barista,” Vasconi added. “We strive to personalize every customer interaction, simplify every decision for them, and eliminate friction at every touchpoint.”
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Papa Johns expects the system to be rolled out nationally by the end of 2026.