McDonald’s is currently piloting a new artificial intelligence system designed to handle drive-thru orders and assist in restaurant operations.
The system, known as ArchIQ and informally referred to as “Archy,” was unveiled during the company’s Worldwide convention, according to Restaurant Business. At present, it is being tested in five McDonald’s locations across the United States, although the company has not publicly disclosed which restaurants are involved.
A video posted on X by a McDonald’s franchise owner showed the system interacting with customers, processing modifications to orders, displaying totals, and instructing vehicles to proceed to the pickup window.
Another demonstration shared by the franchisee account McFranchisee showed ArchIQ handling orders in both English and Spanish. The account also claimed the system has already processed over one million transactions, with roughly 90% of orders completed without requiring staff intervention.
According to the same source, ArchIQ is capable of recognizing returning customers and responding to requests for previous or “usual” orders, although McDonald’s has not publicly explained the underlying technology behind this feature.
The system is being developed in collaboration with Google, and McFranchisee reports that participating US restaurants are receiving Google Edge Cloud hardware to support deployment.
McDonald’s previous AI ordering test
ArchIQ represents the latest attempt by McDonald’s to automate drive-thru ordering using AI. The company previously partnered with IBM on a similar system deployed across more than 100 restaurants.
That earlier initiative was discontinued in 2024 after widespread customer complaints about inaccurate orders. Videos circulated online at the time showing incorrect item processing, including one incident where the system allegedly added over $250 worth of chicken nuggets to an order.
Following the end of the IBM pilot, McDonald’s stated that it would continue exploring voice-based ordering technologies despite the setback.
Restaurant operations support
Beyond order processing, ArchIQ is also being positioned as an operational monitoring tool for restaurant management.
According to franchise reporting shared by McFranchisee, the system can alert managers to equipment failures such as freezer breakdowns, as well as identify kitchen bottlenecks and other operational disruptions requiring attention.
In this framing, ArchIQ functions both as a customer-facing ordering assistant and a backend management support system.
Part of a broader growth strategy
The test is part of McDonald’s wider strategy branded as “McDonald’s > NEXT,” which aims to improve operational efficiency and unit-level profitability.
In its 2025 results, the company reported significant growth in digital engagement. Systemwide sales to loyalty members across 70 markets increased by 20% to nearly $37 billion, while 90-day active loyalty users rose by 19%, reaching around 210 million.
CEO Chris Kempczinski has stated that the strategy focuses on the company’s next phase of productivity and expansion. The initiative also includes potential restaurant upgrades and future menu adjustments, though detailed plans have not yet been disclosed.
Automation and service implications
In internal communications, Kempczinski noted that increasing automation is reducing direct human interaction during the customer journey, raising new expectations for service quality when employees do engage with customers.
Industry data supports a broader slowdown in drive-thru traffic. The 2025 Drive-Thru Report by QSR Magazine, citing Revenue Management Solutions, found that traffic remained consistently negative throughout the year, ranging between -5% and -8%.
Other major fast-food chains, including Taco Bell and Wendy’s, are also developing AI-driven ordering systems, signaling a wider industry shift toward automation.
Some industry observers argue that automation could reduce pressure on staff by shifting repetitive order-taking tasks away from employees, while critics and some customers express a preference for human interaction in drive-thru experiences.
Deployment status
McDonald’s has not confirmed when or whether ArchIQ will expand beyond its current limited pilot locations. The company maintains that the system is intended to improve both speed and accuracy while supporting staff and customers.
For now, the AI drive-thru system remains in early-stage testing as McDonald’s evaluates its performance and reliability.
