Dairy Queen is putting an AI chatbot in its drive-thrus
Dairy Queen is embracing artificial intelligence by introducing a voice-powered chatbot at dozens of its drive-thru locations across the US and Canada. This technology, developed by AI company Presto, aims to accelerate service and suggest additional menu items to customers, enhancing both speed and sales.
Why Use Chatbots in Drive-Thrus?
The decision to integrate AI follows a successful pilot program and aligns Dairy Queen with the growing number of fast food chains adopting similar technologies. Presto's system is already in use with well-known restaurants like Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, and Taco John’s. Dairy Queen's executive vice president of IT, Kevin Baartman, highlighted the chatbot’s effectiveness during busy periods, noting that it handled heavy traffic with ease and maintained a positive customer tone.
How Well Does the AI Perform?
According to reports, Presto’s chatbot accurately processes orders around 90 percent of the time. While there is still occasional assistance from human workers, the technology is continuing to improve. Dairy Queen has not disclosed exact franchise locations but confirms that the rollout will begin at select sites.
Industry Adoption of Drive-Thru AI
- Wendy’s is testing drive-thrus powered by Google’s AI.
- McDonald’s conducted a trial with AI ordering in partnership with IBM.
- Taco Bell and Burger King are also exploring AI solutions in their restaurants, with varying levels of success and ongoing evaluation.
This surge in AI adoption in drive-thrus aims to boost efficiency and improve customer experience, although customers and companies continue to assess the balance between automation and human service.
For more details, you can read the original article on The Verge.
