Fast-food chain Taco Bell is expanding artificial intelligence voice capability to hundreds of U.S. locations by the end of 2024, parent company Yum! Brands announced Wednesday.
The technology has already been used to take orders during a trial period of two years and is implemented at over 100 drive-thrus in 13 states. AI simplifies the order-taking and food preparation process for Taco Bell workers, reduces wait times and improves the accuracy of orders, Yum! Brands said.
“Tapping into AI gives us the ability to ease team members’ workloads, freeing them to focus on front-of-house hospitality,” Taco Bell Chief Digital & Technology Officer Dane Mathews said.
Yum! Brands also is trying out AI voice technology at five KFC locations in Australia.
The company didn’t say whether it has plans to implement AI at American KFC drive-thrus, nor did it specify if joint KFC-Taco Bell locations would be included in the AI rollout.
Other fast-food chains using AI in drive-thru lanes include Taco Bell competitors Del Taco and Taco John’s, as well as Panera, Wendy’s, White Castle, Bojangles and Checkers/Rally’s, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.
McDonald’s tried out using AI powered by IBM, but concluded the trial run Friday.
Still, the burger behemoth plans to bring AI order-taking back at some point, McDonald’s USA Chief Restaurant Officer Mason Smoot told franchisees in an internal memo last month.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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