March 9, 2025 – McDonald’s is leveraging AI technology to enhance the operational efficiency of its 43,000 restaurants worldwide, according to a report by TechSpot today. The company’s Chief Information Officer, Brian Reiss, stated that AI will assist employees in alleviating their daily workload, including interactions with customers and suppliers, as well as addressing equipment malfunctions.
Last year, McDonald’s piloted an edge computing platform in select U.S. stores and plans to further expand it in 2025. The report reveals that AI technology has diverse application scenarios. For instance, computer vision can utilize cameras in the kitchen to verify order accuracy, ensuring customers receive the correct meals. Additionally, an AI-powered voice ordering system, tested with IBM last year, aims to streamline the drive-thru ordering process.
Sensors on kitchen equipment can gather real-time data, predicting potential malfunctions in fryers or ice cream machines for proactive maintenance. Edge computing also simplifies restaurant management tasks. For example, a “generative AI virtual manager” can assist real managers in creating more efficient work schedules. McDonald’s has not disclosed the number of U.S. stores currently utilizing this technology.
However, Sandeep Unni, an analyst at Gartner, a market research company, cautioned that McDonald’s may encounter resistance when rolling out this technology to franchisees and directly operated stores, while deployment costs pose another significant challenge. The necessity of AI remains a subject of debate. Some argue that investing in employee training and routine maintenance may be more beneficial. If employees perform better in drive-thru ordering and ensuring order accuracy, the need for AI intervention may be reduced.
