Over two years have been spent developing the speech AI system, which uses voice recognition to interpret requests from clients.
The technology is currently in use at over 100 locations throughout 13 US states owned by the franchise with a Mexican flair.
The parent company of Taco Bell, Yum! Brands, which also runs KFC and Pizza Hut, claims that it is intended to save labor costs, increase order accuracy, and shorten wait times for employees.
By the end of 2024, it intends to have hundreds of locations using AI technology, and five KFC locations in Australia are currently testing speech AI.
Lawrence Kim, chief innovation officer of Yum! Brands, expressed her “confidence in its effectiveness in optimizing operations and enhancing customer satisfaction.”
However, not all businesses have found success with speech AI; competitor McDonald’s recently stopped using the technology in more than 100 locations.
Examples included a drive-through employee adding $211 (£166) worth of chicken nuggets to an order and a dessert being covered with bacon.
McDonald’s now intends to look to other suppliers in place of IBM, which served as the foundation for the project.
