Overview

• Taco Bell has installed voice-ordering systems in more than 500 U.S. drive-thrus, according to reporting based on the company’s comments to the Wall Street Journal.
• Chief digital and technology officer Dane Mathews said the company is reassessing where to deploy the tech after viral attempts to game it, including requests for 18,000 water cups.
• Employees and customers have reported misfires such as false out-of-stock messages, duplicate items, and refused substitutions documented in Reddit posts.
• Mathews said human staff manage heavy traffic more effectively, so the chain plans more selective or hybrid use rather than full automation during peak periods.
• Parent company Yum Brands is pursuing improvements through a partnership with Nvidia as other chains, including McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and White Castle, continue mixed pilots with their own AI systems.