Share and Follow
Burger King is experimenting with AI-driven headsets capable of delivering recipe instructions, notifying managers about inventory shortages, and assessing employee-customer interaction quality.
Restaurant Brands International, the Miami-based owner of Burger King, Popeyes, among others, announced on Thursday that it is piloting these OpenAI-enhanced headsets in 500 U.S. locations.
The technology gathers data on restaurant activities and communicates through “Patty,” an AI voice assistant that interacts with staff via their headsets. If the soda fountain is running low on Diet Coke, Patty will inform the manager. Similarly, if a customer uses a QR code to report an untidy restroom, the system promptly alerts management.
Staff members can inquire about menu item preparation or instruct Patty to remove items from digital displays when ingredients are depleted.
Burger King is also investigating Patty’s potential to elevate customer service. The system monitors the use of essential phrases such as “welcome,” “please,” and “thank you,” and communicates these interactions to managers.
“It’s not about scoring individuals or enforcing scripts. It’s about reinforcing great hospitality and giving managers helpful, real-time insights so they can recognize their teams more effectively,” Burger King said in a statement.
Burger King added that the key words are “one of many signals to help managers understand service patterns.”
“We believe hospitality is fundamentally human. The role of this technology is to support our teams so they can stay present with guests,” Burger King said.
Patty is part of a larger app-based BK Assistant platform that will be available to all U.S. restaurants later this year.
Burger King is one of several fast food chains experimenting with artificial intelligence. Yum Brands said last spring it was partnering with Nvidia to develop AI technologies for its brands, which include KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.
McDonald’s ended a partnership with IBM in 2024 that was testing automated orders at its drive-thrus. The company is now working with Google on AI systems.