Jul 31, 2024 - Business

Taco Bell to roll out AI drive-thru ordering

Nathan Bomey

A pickup truck is seen at a Taco Bell drive-thru window — Photo: Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Taco Bell is aiming to roll out AI drive-thru ordering at its restaurants globally — and it'll start this year with hundreds of U.S. locations.

Why it matters: Fast-food restaurants are grappling with labor shortages and AI could help with that — though it'll raise questions about jobs being replaced.

Between the lines: Taco Bell owner Yum Brands said Wednesday that it will begin expanding an AI drive-thru ordering system that's already in place at 100+ locations in 13 states.

The "future vision" is "to bring the technology to its brands' drive-thrus around the world," the company said in a statement.
"Benefits include easing task load for team members, improving order accuracy, providing a consistent, friendly experience, and reducing wait times, while driving profitable growth for Taco Bell, Yum! Brands and their franchisees."

Reality check: AI ordering had some notable hiccups for fast-food rival McDonald's.

The Golden Arches recently ended its AI drive-thru ordering pilot after a number of high-profile errors embarrassed the company on social media.
McDonald's did say that it saw "tremendous opportunity" in the IBM-powered technology and had "confidence that a voice ordering solution for drive-thru will be part of our restaurants' future."

What's next: Yum Brands said it's also testing the system at five KFC locations in Australia.

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Taco Bell to roll out AI drive-thru ordering

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