Ordering your Big Mac will never be the same
McDonald’s Is Making a Big Change to Its Ordering System—And You’re Going to Love It
Published on Mar. 14, 2025
Like Dorothy’s ruby slippers in The Wizard of Oz, the golden arches of McDonald’s are an instant reminder that there’s no place like home—or rather, your home away from home when you don’t want to cook, McDonald’s. It’s the one restaurant that’s solid and steady, delivering crispy fries and delicious sandwiches every single time, no matter where in the world you may find yourself. But change is inevitable, and McDonald’s is no exception.
Don’t get nervous: While change can be hard and scary, sometimes it’s exciting. And that just may be the case about the latest innovations you’ll soon encounter when you order your favorite McDonald’s meal.
Read on to find out what to expect from McDonald’s new ordering system, as well as when the changes are coming, and the other ways this development could alter your Mickey D’s experience.
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What big change is hitting McDonald’s ordering system?
McDonald’s AI-based technology system, called “edge computing,” will be giving the restaurant’s daily operations a major glow-up. Among its best potential applications? Getting your order correct before it’s handed to you. That’s right—if you request a burger without onions and a worker accidentally puts them on, the system should be able to catch the issue and fix it … before you dig in and get a mouthful of onions.
McDonald’s will do this by using a type of computer vision that utilizes cameras mounted inside each location. Think of this as like facial recognition, but with Big Macs and fries. The end result is that you’ll get the right order every time. Thanks, AI!
What other cool things can McDonald’s use this tech for?
The new technology system may also be able to predict when kitchen equipment might break down. And yep, we’re looking at you, McFlurry machines!
In fact, McDonald’s suppliers have already started installing sensors on equipment for this purpose. That data will help give individual restaurants a “real-time” look at how those machines are operating and if there’s any indication a breakdown might be on the horizon.
There will also be AI-powered drive-thru changes, likely similar to what’s happening at Wendy’s drive-thrus. While not all customers are thrilled about that part, since it may translate to a lack of human interaction, let’s hope that other changes make up for that.
Will this affect all McDonald’s locations?
Yes. McDonald’s is bringing this AI system to its 43,000 locations around the world. Every kitchen will be updated with equipment that connects to the internet, drive-thrus will use AI, and managers will get additional AI-powered tools to make their day-to-day responsibilities go more smoothly.
While the technology is in place in a number of locations, we don’t yet know when this system will be fully functional. Right now, according to McDonald’s CEO Brian Rice, they are in the exploration stage, at least with the ordering. But here’s to hoping that feature arrives at a McDonald’s near us sooner rather than later.
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Source
- Wall Street Journal: “McDonald’s Gives Its Restaurants an AI Makeover”
