From robots making kebabs to FINALLY ending the McDonald's McFlurry machine malfunctions – how AI is changing fast food
We explain how AI is affecting your takeaway order
ROBOCHOP From robots making kebabs to FINALLY ending the McDonald's McFlurry machine malfunctions – how AI is changing fast food
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DRIVING up to an ordering kiosk at a Popeyes drive-thru, you would easily think you're being served by a friendly American staff member.
But the voice you're hearing actually belongs to 'Al', the US chain's AI robot that has been programmed to take orders at all of its UK drive-thru locations.
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Popeyes has rolled out AI ordering kiosks at all of its UK drive thrus
Credit: Scoop
Popeyes is one of several fast food giants adopting Artificial Intelligence in its operations, and many more could follow suit in the next few years.
Restaurant chains have started rolling out the technology to do a range of jobs, from figuring out what new menu items customers want, to even helping make the food in the kitchen.
If you're wondering whether robots might be serving you up your next cheeseburger or kebab, these are all the fast-food chains joining the AI revolution.
German Doner Kebab
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We've used a mocked up image to illustrate the how GDK is planning to use robots to cut its meat
German Doner Kebab is planning on replacing humans with robots to slice up its doner meat at all its restaurants within the next year.
The major kebab chain, which has almost 150 sites in the UK, is currently trialling robotic meat shavers in a handful of its restaurants.
The firm's boss Simon Wallis previously told The Sun the robots actually do a better job than humans, as they "shave the meat more consistently and improve productivity".
McDonald's
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McDonald's is using AI technology to prevent its McFlurry machine from breaking down
Credit: Alamy
The world's most famous fast food chain has some big plans to roll out AI, and is even using the technology to prevent its McFlurry machines from breaking down.
McDonald's announced earlier this year that it wants to introduce the technology to over 40,000 restaurants around the world to help improve its customer experience.
Sensors are being added to its fryers and ice-cream machines to help staff predict when they might break down and get them serviced more quickly - which could see an end to the running joke among McDonald's fans that the McFlurry machine is never working.
Cameras could also be installed in restaurants, which would use AI facial recognition technology to make sure customers are given the right orders.
Burger King Unveils Major Upgrades to 400 Locations in 2025
It's not the first time McDonald's has tried out AI in its restaurants.
The chain ended up removing AI ordering from its US drive-thrus last year after videos of the robots' order blunders went viral, from bacon-topped ice cream to customers being served hundreds of dollars' worth of chicken nuggets.
Popeyes
Popeyes was the first fast food chain to bring AI ordering to UK drive-thrus, rolling it out to its five drive-thru locations last summer.
Orders are taken by a robot with a friendly American accent dubbed 'Al', named after the firm's founder Al Copeland, which is trained to understand accents from all around the UK.
Al can answer questions from customers such as "what sauces are available?", and is even trained to handle customers changing their mind halfway through their order.
It can even recommend meal combos, and explain what's in every Popeyes item.
Unlike's McDonald's drive-thru robot mishap, Popeyes said the technology was 97% accurate after a trial at its Northampton drive-thru, with no customer complaints.
The fried chicken chain is also looking at other ways it can use AI, including to predict how many orders it expects to have so it can improve efficiency.
Domino's
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Domino's has plans to use AI to figure out what its customers want next
Credit: Getty
Also hopping on the AI bandwagon, Domino's is planning on using the technology to figure out what customers want next, from new pizza flavours to improvements to its service.
The pizza chain plans to use cutting-edge Generative AI technology to analyse what its customers are saying about Domino's on social media platform Reddit.
It also wants to expand the rollout so it can see what customers are saying on other social media platforms.
However, the plans are only for the US, and Domino's said it's not currently planning to implement the technology for UK customers.
Starbucks
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Starbucks is trialling a virtual AI assistant in 35 US stores
Credit: Starbucks
Starbucks has recently introduced a virtual AI assistant to help its baristas while they take orders and make coffees.
Employees can use in-store iPads to ask the assistant questions, such as what ingredients are in a new drink on the menu, and it will answer them immediately.
Starbucks said the technology would give its staff more time to focus on crafting beverages and connecting with customers, instead of flipping through manuals to search for answers.
The scheme, called Green Dot Assist, is being piloted across 35 of its US stores.
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