Starbucks is exploring the introduction of artificial intelligence into its drive-thru ordering service, with plans to test a back-end AI model designed to help baristas enter orders more accurately and efficiently—freeing up staff to focus more on customer interaction and improve service speed. The company is also investigating technology that can identify customers upon arrival at the store, enabling personalized digital menu displays and streamlining the payment process. In recent years, major chain restaurant companies have frequently piloted drive-thru AI technology, though it has yet to be adopted on a large scale across the industry. Burger King currently has no plans to broadly roll out the AI ordering system it is piloting, citing customer preference for human interaction; McDonald's is testing its own AI ordering system and believes the technology could save each restaurant dozens of labor hours per week, allowing employees to devote time to other tasks.