McDonald's testing AI drive-thru order-taking system called ArchIQ at five locations across country

McDonald's is quietly testing an artificial intelligence system that could automate one of the fast-food industry's most labor-intensive jobs, even as the chain faces mounting pressure over wage increases and worker conditions. The five-location pilot of ArchIQ, which uses voice recognition to take drive-thru orders, represents a critical moment for an industry already grappling with whether automation will solve its profitability crisis or deepen economic inequality. If successful, the technology could reshape employment at thousands of locations worldwide—and become a bellwether for how aggressively American companies will deploy AI to replace workers in low-wage jobs.

Fox Business·3h ago