AI Conquered Coding. Fast Food Is Next

In 2024, approximately 6 percent of fast-food establishments across the United States employ voice AI technology during the drive-thru process according to Intouch Insight’s annual Drive Thru Survey. This figure has doubled since last year and continues to climb. Some consumers may find the interaction with these AI systems to be overly courteous and pleasant, almost as if they were interacting with a human.

However, others have noticed anomalies such as the AI ordering excessive amounts of items or failing to understand certain accents and dialects. Some customers have even gone as far as recording their encounters with these AI systems on social media platforms, leading to viral memes and ridicule. Despite the initial hype, many fast-food chains have since pulled the plug on their AI-drive-thru experiments, deeming them a costly failure.

However, a few companies like Dairy Queen, White Castle, and Taco Bell have persisted in their efforts to integrate AI into their drive-thru systems, believing it will ultimately speed up service and reduce costs. The debate continues as fast-food chains grapple with the integration of AI technology into their customer service operations.