Ordering fries from the driver's seat may be entering a new phase in Australia. A McDonald's in Sydney is testing an artificial intelligence-powered drive-thru, bringing automation to one of the country's most familiar everyday transactions.
Here's what to know
According to a TikTok video report from 7NEWS Australia (@7newsaustralia), the Sydney restaurant is the first McDonald's in Australia to be used to trial AI drive-thru ordering.
@7newsaustralia A Macca's run is about to look a little different for some customers. A store in Sydney is the first McDonald's in Australia to trial an AI-powered drive-thru. #maccas #ai #artificialintelligence #tech #fastfood ♬ original sound - 7NEWS Australia
"A Macca's run is about to look a little different for some customers," the station wrote in the caption.
McDonald's also said in the video that customers can switch to a human worker if they want. The ordering system runs on Google Gemini, is meant to learn customers' voices and accents, and is being tested in Australia after a rollout in the United States.
The video showed a reporter greeting the AI and getting a somewhat delayed response back. 7NEWS Australia said the goal for the trial is for the tech to learn as it encounters different accents, voices, and order changes.
Reactions in the comments mixed job concerns with doubts about how well the system would work. Among the responses were "Less jobs," "here it is guys, AI taking our jobs," and "If a human can't get my order right, what makes AI any better?"
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
More background
Not everyone liked the idea of replacing the usual speaker box exchange. One commenter asked, "What if I want to talk to a real person?" while another said, "I'm skipping the speaker box and going straight to the window to talk to a real person."
McDonald's Chief Restaurant Officer David McMullen insisted to 7NEWS Australia that the tech will allow employees to work more efficiently on food orders.
"The software is designed to ultimately streamline the ordering process for our customers in drive-thru, which allows our crew then to focus more on the experiential pieces within the drive-thru for our customers," he said.
What's being done?
The test remains limited to the Sydney store, and customers still have the option of speaking with a human worker. One poster claiming to be one of those actually had some positive thoughts on the AI assistant.
"As an employee, we want this, drive-thru orders can take up valuable time we need and be a distraction," they wrote.
7NEWS Australia noted KFC and Hungry Jack's have done similar trials in the country. The Sydney trial will be on and off over the next few weeks.
"This is about helping our crew, not about replacing them," McMullen declared.
Where can I learn more?
The Sydney trial is one example of how AI is spreading through fast food and hospitality.
• McDonald's said 1 million orders went through its AI lane, with humans helping 10%.
• Restaurants using Winnow said AI tracked diners' habits and sharpened awareness around kitchen waste.
• Serve Robotics is expanding self-driving delivery robots for customers weighing automated food drop-offs.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
