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McDonald’s is testing a new artificial intelligence system designed to take drive-thru orders and support restaurant operations, as the fast-food giant continues to explore automation across its customer experience and back-of-house processes.
The system, called ArchIQ and nicknamed “Archy,” was introduced during McDonald’s Worldwide Convention, according to Restaurant Business. It is currently being tested at five McDonald’s locations in the United States, although the company has not disclosed which restaurants are involved in the trial.
How McDonald’s ArchIQ AI Ordering System Works
A video shared on X by a McDonald’s franchise owner showed the AI system greeting customers, processing changes to orders, displaying the final total, and asking customers to pull forward for pickup.
Another demonstration shared by the McFranchisee account showed the system taking orders in both English and Spanish. According to the account, ArchIQ has already processed more than one million transactions, with around 90% of orders completed without being escalated to restaurant staff.
The account also said ArchIQ can respond when repeat customers ask for their “usual order.” McDonald’s has not yet shared technical details on how this feature works or how customer preferences are identified.
McDonald’s Partners with Google on AI Drive-Thru Technology
ArchIQ is being developed with Google. According to McFranchisee, McDonald’s restaurants in the United States are receiving Google Edge Cloud blades ahead of a potential broader rollout.
The test marks McDonald’s latest attempt to bring AI-powered voice ordering to its drive-thru lanes, following an earlier automated ordering pilot with IBM across more than 100 restaurants.
McDonald’s Previous AI Ordering Test with IBM
McDonald’s ended its IBM automated ordering pilot in 2024 after customer complaints about order errors. During the test, several customer videos showed incorrect orders, including one reported case in which the system added more than $250 worth of chicken nuggets.
After ending the IBM partnership, McDonald’s said it would continue exploring voice ordering technology and other AI-powered solutions for restaurants.
ArchIQ Also Supports Restaurant Operations
ArchIQ is not limited to customer ordering. According to McFranchisee, the system can also monitor restaurant operations and alert managers to potential issues.
The account said ArchIQ can notify managers if a freezer is down, flag kitchen bottlenecks, and identify other operational problems that may require attention.
This positions ArchIQ as both a customer-facing ordering tool and a management-support system aimed at improving restaurant efficiency.
Part of the McDonald’s > NEXT Growth Plan
The ArchIQ test forms part of McDonald’s new growth strategy, known as “McDonald’s > NEXT.” The company said the plan is designed to improve restaurant operations, strengthen unit economics, and support its next phase of growth.
In its 2025 results, McDonald’s reported strong digital customer engagement. The company said systemwide sales to loyalty members across 70 markets rose 20% to nearly US$37 billion in 2025, while 90-day active loyalty users increased 19% to nearly 210 million by year-end.
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said the strategy is focused on driving the company’s next phase of growth and productivity.
Automation and the Future of Fast-Food Service
As McDonald’s expands automation, Kempczinski said in a company memo that more of the customer journey is becoming automated, creating fewer opportunities for guests to interact directly with crew members. He added that this raises the standard for hospitality when customers do interact with staff.
The test comes as drive-thru performance remains under pressure across the quick-service restaurant sector. QSR Magazine’s 2025 Drive-Thru Report, citing Revenue Management Solutions, said drive-thru traffic remained negative month after month in 2025, hovering between a decline of 5% and 8%.
Other fast-food chains, including Taco Bell and Wendy’s, have also announced AI-powered drive-thru ordering systems as the industry looks for ways to improve speed, accuracy, and labor efficiency.
Jonathan Maze, editor-in-chief of Restaurant Business, told ABC News that companies often present drive-thru automation as a way to free employees for other tasks. The McFranchisee account also said ArchIQ could reduce the need for workers to take orders in noisy drive-thru lanes.
Will McDonald’s Expand ArchIQ?
McDonald’s has not announced when ArchIQ could be expanded beyond the five test locations. The company has said the system is intended to improve speed and accuracy while supporting both customers and restaurant crews.
Reactions to the ArchIQ demonstration have been mixed. Some X users said they preferred interacting with human workers, while others supported a more automated ordering experience.
For now, McDonald’s AI drive-thru system remains in limited testing, but ArchIQ highlights the company’s growing focus on artificial intelligence, automation, and digital restaurant operations.
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