McDonald’s is rolling out one of the most sweeping transformations in its history, betting heavily on artificial intelligence to reshape how its restaurants operate and how customers place and pay for orders. The initiative spans tens of thousands of locations worldwide and focuses especially on the drive thru, long the chain’s most valuable sales channel.
From smarter ordering systems to connected kitchen equipment and digital payments, the changes are designed to boost speed, accuracy, and consistency while easing pressure on workers. Here’s what’s happening behind the counter and in the drive thru lanes.
A Drive Thru Built for Scale
McDonald’s is deploying AI driven tools across nearly all of its more than 43,000 restaurants worldwide, with special attention on the roughly 27,000 locations that already have drive thru lanes. Company leaders have pointed to the “latent potential” of the drive thru, arguing that upgrading software, adding lanes where space allows, and modernizing systems can meaningfully increase speed and sales.
A core part of this effort is voice enabled ordering and other AI systems developed with Google Cloud. These tools run on new universal software that links the mobile app, kiosks, and in store systems into a single platform. By improving order accuracy and flow, McDonald’s aims to reduce friction for customers while lowering the mental load on staff juggling counter service, delivery drivers, and curbside pickup.
Inside the AI Powered Restaurant
Beyond the drive thru, McDonald’s is using AI to modernize daily operations inside its kitchens. Internet connected equipment can monitor performance, flag maintenance issues before breakdowns occur, and adjust cooking times based on real time conditions. Machine learning models draw on data from thousands of restaurants to fine tune these processes and help managers make quicker decisions.
Executives describe the initiative as a full AI makeover that touches nearly every operational layer, from grills and fryers to order screens and back office planning. One goal is consistency, especially during peak hours when small delays can cascade into long lines. By standardizing processes through software, the company believes restaurants can handle rushes more smoothly while maintaining food quality and service standards.
Catching Errors Before Orders Leave
Another major focus is reducing mistakes that frustrate customers and slow operations. McDonald’s plans to expand AI based order confirmation systems that use tools like weight sensors or computer vision to detect missing items before orders are handed over. These systems are already in use at hundreds of locations and are set to scale rapidly.
The company has told investors it intends to double down on AI investments through 2027, expanding these confirmation tools to tens of thousands of restaurants globally. By that point, McDonald’s expects such technology to be a standard feature rather than an experiment. The aim is to cut remakes, speed up service, and reduce stress on employees who otherwise must resolve errors after the fact.
Gently Moving Away From Cash
While McDonald’s is not eliminating cash, it is clearly encouraging customers to use cards and the app. After the U.S. Treasury halted penny production in 2025, the company confirmed that some U.S. locations now round cash payments up or down to the nearest 5 cents when exact change is unavailable. This rounding does not apply to card or app transactions.
Company statements note that most U.S. transactions are already cashless, and the policy mirrors practices in countries like Canada and Australia that have retired low value coins. As AI powered ordering expands in drive thrus and on mobile, faster digital checkouts, app rewards, and simpler pricing are steadily nudging customers away from cash without formally banning it.
Growth Plans and the Human Factor
The AI overhaul supports a broader growth strategy. McDonald’s has told investors it aims to reach about 50,000 restaurants worldwide by the end of 2027, up from just over 41,000 in late 2023, while growing its global loyalty base to around 250 million active members. Digital tools are central to that vision, from personalized offers in MyMcDonald’s Rewards to smoother traffic flow in busy locations.
At the same time, the company says AI is meant to support workers by reducing repetitive tasks, shortening training time, and improving shift scheduling. Labor groups and economists note that automation across fast food could still reshape many roles, underscoring the need for clear training and transition plans as the industry modernizes.
A Fast Food Future Taking Shape
Together, these changes mark a significant shift in how the world’s largest restaurant chain operates. AI is no longer confined to small pilots at McDonald’s but is becoming a backbone for ordering, cooking, payments, and management. The strategy reflects confidence that technology can unlock efficiency at massive scale while supporting continued expansion.
For customers, the impact shows up as faster service, fewer errors, and stronger incentives to order digitally. For workers, the promise is less chaos during peak hours and better tools to manage demanding environments. As McDonald’s pushes toward 2027, the success of this overhaul will help signal how deeply AI will shape the future of fast food.
Sources
As Pennies Phase Out of US Currency, McDonald’s Updates Cash Payment. ABC News, November 2025
McDonald’s Bets on AI in 2026 to Fix a Major Problem. TheStreet, March 2025
McDonald’s Technology Overhaul Report. The Wall Street Journal, March 5, 2025
McDonald’s Plans Massive Overhaul With Major Changes to Restaurants. Fox Business, January 2026
Fast-Food Restaurants Use New Technology to Change How Customers Order. Fox News, January 2026
The Future of Jobs Report 2025. World Economic Forum, January 2025