Wendy's AI-Powered Drive-Thrus to Offer Bilingual Service in Select States
The AI revolution in drive-thrus is picking up steam, and now it's going bilingual. Just a week after Taco Bell announced its plans to introduce AI order-taking at hundreds of its locations across the US, Wendy's is jumping on the bandwagon with a Spanish AI order-taking system at 28 drive-thru spots in Florida and Ohio.
These chosen locations are in areas with a high concentration of Spanish-speaking residents. In Florida alone, more than 22% of the population speaks Spanish at home, making this a smart move to cater to a significant part of their customer base.
AI in fast food isn't a new concept. Wendy's has been gradually rolling out its FreshAI system, powered by Google Cloud's large language model, since late last year. Meanwhile, McDonald's recently pulled the plug on its own AI experiment, opting for human workers instead, though they still see a place for AI in their future.
So, how does Wendy's new system work? When customers pull up to the menu board, they're greeted by an AI voice that asks for their order in English by default. But if a customer says "Spanish" or "Español," the AI switches languages for the entire ordering process. It's a clever way to serve a diverse customer base more effectively.
The goal behind this technology is to free up restaurant workers to focus on other tasks, Wendy's explains. With AI handling the orders, you get more accurate and faster service because the employee isn't juggling multiple responsibilities at once.
Of course, there are critics who worry about the downsides of AI in drive-thrus, like potential job losses, issues with accents or regional dialects leading to inaccurate orders, and difficulties handling unusual or customized requests. In my own experience with AI ordering at Bojangles, a chicken and biscuits chain in North Carolina, I've found it to be quicker and more accurate than human order-takers, especially when I make modifications to my order.
Wendy's has big plans to expand this technology in the future, so we'll likely see more bilingual AI drive-thrus popping up across the country.
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Comments (30)
0/200
![BillyThomas]()
BillyThomas
April 23, 2025 at 4:00:24 AM EDT
¡Qué genial que Wendy's ahora ofrezca servicio bilingüe en el drive-thru! Ahora puedo pedir en español sin problemas. Era hora de que la comida rápida se pusiera al día. Solo espero que el AI no se equivoque con mi pedido como lo hacen algunos trabajadores humanos. ¡Dale una oportunidad! 🌮
0
![RaymondNelson]()
RaymondNelson
April 19, 2025 at 7:04:37 AM EDT
Wendy's going bilingual at the drive-thru is pretty dope! Now I can order in Spanish without any hassle. It's about time fast food caught up with the times. Just hope the AI doesn't mess up my order like some human workers do. Give it a shot! 🌮
0
![PaulBrown]()
PaulBrown
April 15, 2025 at 1:20:49 AM EDT
ウェンディーズのAIドライブスルーはかなり便利ですね、特にバイリンガルサービスが！急いでいて英語を話すのが面倒なときに助かります。ただ、私のスラングをもう少し理解してほしいですが、良いスタートですね！🍔🤖
0
![BrianMartinez]()
BrianMartinez
April 14, 2025 at 9:07:34 PM EDT
El servicio de drive-thru de Wendy's con IA es bastante genial, especialmente el servicio bilingüe. Es súper útil cuando estoy apurado y no quiero hablar en inglés. Solo desearía que entendiera mejor mi jerga, pero es un buen comienzo. 🍔🤖
0
![BrianBaker]()
BrianBaker
April 14, 2025 at 9:50:29 AM EDT
Wendy's AI drive-thru is pretty neat, especially the bilingual service! It's super helpful when I'm in a rush and can't be bothered to speak English. Just wish it understood my slang better, but it's a solid start! 🍔🤖
0
![FrankSmith]()
FrankSmith
April 14, 2025 at 2:02:17 AM EDT
웬디스가 드라이브 스루에서 스페인어로 주문할 수 있게 되었다니 정말 멋지네요! 이제 스페인어로 주문하는데 문제없어요. 패스트푸드도 시대에 맞춰가는군요. 다만, AI가 사람처럼 주문을 틀리지 않기를 바랍니다. 한번 시도해보세요! 🌮
0
The AI revolution in drive-thrus is picking up steam, and now it's going bilingual. Just a week after Taco Bell announced its plans to introduce AI order-taking at hundreds of its locations across the US, Wendy's is jumping on the bandwagon with a Spanish AI order-taking system at 28 drive-thru spots in Florida and Ohio.
These chosen locations are in areas with a high concentration of Spanish-speaking residents. In Florida alone, more than 22% of the population speaks Spanish at home, making this a smart move to cater to a significant part of their customer base.
AI in fast food isn't a new concept. Wendy's has been gradually rolling out its FreshAI system, powered by Google Cloud's large language model, since late last year. Meanwhile, McDonald's recently pulled the plug on its own AI experiment, opting for human workers instead, though they still see a place for AI in their future.
So, how does Wendy's new system work? When customers pull up to the menu board, they're greeted by an AI voice that asks for their order in English by default. But if a customer says "Spanish" or "Español," the AI switches languages for the entire ordering process. It's a clever way to serve a diverse customer base more effectively.
The goal behind this technology is to free up restaurant workers to focus on other tasks, Wendy's explains. With AI handling the orders, you get more accurate and faster service because the employee isn't juggling multiple responsibilities at once.
Of course, there are critics who worry about the downsides of AI in drive-thrus, like potential job losses, issues with accents or regional dialects leading to inaccurate orders, and difficulties handling unusual or customized requests. In my own experience with AI ordering at Bojangles, a chicken and biscuits chain in North Carolina, I've found it to be quicker and more accurate than human order-takers, especially when I make modifications to my order.
Wendy's has big plans to expand this technology in the future, so we'll likely see more bilingual AI drive-thrus popping up across the country.
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Britney Spears, a pop music icon, continues to redefine the genre with her hit 'Ooh La La.' This track is more than a catchy tune; it’s a vibrant reflection on connection in the digital era, wrapped i
April 23, 2025 at 4:00:24 AM EDT
¡Qué genial que Wendy's ahora ofrezca servicio bilingüe en el drive-thru! Ahora puedo pedir en español sin problemas. Era hora de que la comida rápida se pusiera al día. Solo espero que el AI no se equivoque con mi pedido como lo hacen algunos trabajadores humanos. ¡Dale una oportunidad! 🌮
0
April 19, 2025 at 7:04:37 AM EDT
Wendy's going bilingual at the drive-thru is pretty dope! Now I can order in Spanish without any hassle. It's about time fast food caught up with the times. Just hope the AI doesn't mess up my order like some human workers do. Give it a shot! 🌮
0
April 15, 2025 at 1:20:49 AM EDT
ウェンディーズのAIドライブスルーはかなり便利ですね、特にバイリンガルサービスが！急いでいて英語を話すのが面倒なときに助かります。ただ、私のスラングをもう少し理解してほしいですが、良いスタートですね！🍔🤖
0
April 14, 2025 at 9:07:34 PM EDT
El servicio de drive-thru de Wendy's con IA es bastante genial, especialmente el servicio bilingüe. Es súper útil cuando estoy apurado y no quiero hablar en inglés. Solo desearía que entendiera mejor mi jerga, pero es un buen comienzo. 🍔🤖
0
April 14, 2025 at 9:50:29 AM EDT
Wendy's AI drive-thru is pretty neat, especially the bilingual service! It's super helpful when I'm in a rush and can't be bothered to speak English. Just wish it understood my slang better, but it's a solid start! 🍔🤖
0
April 14, 2025 at 2:02:17 AM EDT
웬디스가 드라이브 스루에서 스페인어로 주문할 수 있게 되었다니 정말 멋지네요! 이제 스페인어로 주문하는데 문제없어요. 패스트푸드도 시대에 맞춰가는군요. 다만, AI가 사람처럼 주문을 틀리지 않기를 바랍니다. 한번 시도해보세요! 🌮
0
