- McDonald's plans to roll out a voice-AI drive-thru ordering system named Archy across most U.S. restaurants by 2027.
- CEO Chris Kempczinski said the technology aims to improve order consistency and accuracy across drive-thrus, which generate about 75% of business.
- McDonald's estimates Archy will save at least 50 labor hours per store each week, freeing up crew members to focus on hospitality.
- The company has not disclosed whether the reduction in required labor hours will result in store-level layoffs.
- The move reflects a broader industry push toward AI, though research shows 85 percent of consumers still prefer interacting with human agents.
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