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Yum! Brands partners with Nvidia to introduce AI-powered voice ordering at Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC locations

Fast-food lovers, get ready—your next drive-thru experience might not involve a human voice on the other end of the speaker. Yum! Brands, the company behind Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC, has announced that it will be rolling out artificial intelligence to take drive-thru orders at 500 locations across the country.

Starting in April and continuing through June, the fast-food giant will partner with Nvidia to introduce AI-powered voice ordering technology. This advanced system is designed to handle complex orders, recognize different speech patterns, and even respond with personalized customer interactions.

A Smarter, Faster Drive-Thru Experience

According to Yum! Brands, the goal of this new technology is to improve efficiency and streamline operations. AI will not only take orders but also help manage restaurant operations through real-time analytics. The company says this technology could reduce wait times, improve order accuracy, and free up employees to focus on food preparation and customer service inside the restaurant.

“We are expanding AI to help team members manage complex tasks,” Yum! Brands stated. “This includes AI agents that plan, reason, and act to assist across restaurants.”

Mixed Results from Other Fast-Food Chains

Yum! Brands isn’t the first fast-food company to test AI in drive-thrus. McDonald’s and Wendy’s have both experimented with voice-automated ordering systems in recent years—with mixed results.

• Wendy’s has committed to using AI voice ordering in 600 locations after a successful trial at 100 restaurants. Their CEO, Kirk Tanner, praised the system for improving both customer experience and labor efficiency.

• McDonald’s, on the other hand, ended its AI pilot program last year after customers reported incorrect orders. The company had partnered with IBM to test AI voice ordering at 100 locations but ultimately decided to explore other solutions.

Customers Have Mixed Feelings

While some diners are excited about faster, more efficient service, others have taken to social media to express frustration with AI-powered ordering. Some worry about incorrect orders, while others feel the experience lacks the personal touch of speaking to a real employee.

Despite some skepticism, the use of AI in fast food is only growing. With companies like Yum! Brands investing heavily in this technology, AI-powered drive-thrus could soon become the norm rather than the exception.

Will AI ordering make your fast-food experience better or worse? The answer may depend on how well this technology performs when it’s fully rolled out.