WENDY'S has announced it will be rolling out a new artificial intelligence software that should make drive-thru orders more efficient.
The decision to introduce Google-developed AI to the fast-food chain came after months of testing.
Earlier this year, Wendy's announced it would be partnering with Google Cloud to upgrade tech in its stores.
The company eventually created a solution called Wendy's FreshAI to cater to the 75% to 80% of customers who prefer to use the drive-thru.
In May, it was introduced at four stores in Columbus, Ohio.
After just after a few months, execs started noticing drive-thru service times were 22 seconds faster than the local average, Wendy's said in an announcement.
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On Monday, the fast-food chain officially stated that it would start rolling out FreshAI nationwide.
FreshAI helps to assist with the order-taking process so workers can focus on food prep and interaction with customers.
According to Wendy's, the technology is generative, meaning it should get better at taking orders the longer it's used.
"Considering there are more than 200 billion ways to order a Dave’s Double, leveraging generative AI is a crucial piece of innovating the Wendy’s drive-thru experience for customers," Wendy's wrote, referencing a favorite menu item.
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Not only can consumers expect their orders to come out faster, but the meals will also be more accurately made, the company said.
With the occasional assistance of a team member, FreshAI saw a 99% accuracy success rate.
Without any human intervention, it was around 86%, but this should improve, according to Wendy's.
Many companies introducing AI have been slammed for stealing jobs from communities, but Wendy's explicitly said FreshAI will assist team members, not replace them.
This still didn't protect the company from harsh online criticism.
One person who felt the AI was harming the workforce said: "It'll start here, but over the next 5-10 years watch it expand to multiple industries."
"Well, no more Chocolate Frosties for me. Bye Wendy's," another said.
McDonald's is also in talks to incorporate AI systems as part of its massive plan to open 10,000 stores in the next four years.
The chain hopes to use generative AI to reduce business disruptions and “accelerate automation innovation.”
It’s not clear exactly how the new tech will be used, but the company said it will benefit customers with “fresher, hotter food.”
The company also partnered with Google Cloud Services for the incoming changes.
It's unclear when Wendy's fans will see FreshAI come to their local shops, as the brand only said "more" stores will see the change in 2023 and 2024.
According to the statement, franchise owners are encouraged to ask about using FreshAI at their stores.
"We remain focused on providing the fast, accurate and consistent drive-thru experiences our customers expect from us," the statement reads.
"This means resisting the urge to deploy widely and too quickly.
"We are still in the early stages of iterating and evolving Wendy’s FreshAI to serve our customers as we scale to more restaurants."
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In other Wendy's news, the Peppermint Frosty has returned for the second year in a row.
And one Wendy's franchisee CEO has to shutter a massive number of locations due to bankruptcy.
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