It's fascinating to consider how AI is reshaping the fast-food landscape. Here are 7 key ways AI is transforming the industry. But first—a few fun fast food facts.

Sorry Ronald—China’s Mixue Ice Cream & Tea has surpassed McDonalds for the largest number of locations around the world, at 45,000 to 41,000.

Although McDonalds is known for popularising the fast food model, historians mostly agree that America’s oldest fast food restaurant was the White Castle in Wichita, Kansas, which opened its doors in 1921.

A (somewhat) recent poll found that the most popular selling categories of fast food are burgers at $82 billion, followed by donuts at $36 billion, and chicken at $27 billion.

Now let’s see how AI is changing fast food:

1: AI-Powered Drive-Thrus and Ordering:

AI is revolutionizing the drive-thru experience with advanced voice recognition and natural language processing. This allows for faster, more accurate order taking, reducing errors and wait times. AI systems can also personalize recommendations based on past orders and preferences, driving upselling and customer satisfaction. The monolithic inquiry of “would you like fries with that” can be tailored to each customer.

2: Smart Inventory Management and Waste Reduction:

AI algorithms can analyze sales data, weather patterns, and other factors to predict demand and optimize inventory levels. This helps fast-food restaurants minimize food waste, reduce costs, and ensure that ingredients are always fresh. Not to mention making sure to NEVER run out of chicken—like what infamously happened to a Texas Popeyes in 2019.

3: Automation in Kitchen Operations:

Robotics and AI are automating various kitchen tasks, such as grilling burgers, frying fries, and assembling meals. This increases efficiency, consistency, and speed of service, while also addressing labor shortages. Cali Express has already launched the world's first fully automated fast food restaurant, where robots do everything.

4: Personalized Customer Experiences and Marketing:

AI can analyze customer data to create highly targeted marketing campaigns and personalized promotions. Digital menu boards can dynamically adjust based on customer demographics, time of day, and other factors, enhancing the customer experience.

5: Optimized Staffing and Labor Management:

AI-powered scheduling tools can predict peak hours and customer traffic, enabling restaurants to optimize staffing levels. This helps reduce labor costs, improve employee satisfaction, and ensure that there are always enough staff members on hand to handle demand.

6: AI-Driven Menu Innovation and Development:

AI models can analyze vast datasets of culinary trends, customer preferences, ingredient combinations, and even nutritional information to generate novel and appealing menu items. These models can predict which flavor profiles and food combinations are likely to be popular, allowing restaurants to stay ahead of the curve and introduce exciting new dishes. Instagram influencers like Alex Rameessar (@ai_testkitchen) are already serving up some zany dishes like the Sweet & Spicy Korean Fried Donut Chicken Sandwich. Why can’t Ronald McDonald try out some new flavors?

7: Enhanced Food Safety and Quality Control:

AI-powered vision systems can monitor food preparation processes in real-time, detecting potential contamination or quality issues. Sensors and AI algorithms can track temperature and freshness throughout the supply chain, ensuring that ingredients are stored and handled properly. AI can also be used to track and trace food items, greatly enhancing the ability to do recalls should they be needed. AI can also help optimize existing recipes for cost, nutritional value, or speed of preparation.

What’s on Your Menu for 2025?

Wow, these are some exciting developments in the fast food industry for international giants like McDonalds and regional outfits like In & Out Burger. What about you…are you looking to get OUT of your current job and IN to a new one? Or are you a manager looking to expand your sales team?

With close to four decades in the software sales industry, I have a large network of pre-vetted talent and company connections. Whether you’re seeking or hiring, I have something on the menu you’re sure to like. Send your orders to mike@michaelblair.com and let’s connect!