Science & Tech · AI · 5 hrs ago
Yum! Brands says Taco Bell’s AI drive-thru system helps retain staff
Yum!
Brands says AI drive-thru ordering is helping Taco Bell retain staff by making restaurant employees’ jobs easier.
The technology handles orders, allowing workers to focus more on food and customer service.
Taco Bell has expanded its Omilia Voice AI system to nearly 900 drive-thru locations.
The rollout comes as many Americans voice concerns about the growth of AI, while businesses look for ways to improve efficiency.
Yum!
Brands says the technology can reduce stressful parts of the ordering process for its restaurant teams.
Company executive Erika Burkhardt said using AI is a learning process that can help the company improve.
The system’s use is continuing to expand, though Yum!
Brands did not give a further timeline.
Yum! Brands says Taco Bell’s AI drive-thru ordering system is helping increase restaurant employee retention by making jobs easier.
Chief Legal Officer Erika Burkhardt said the system reduces tension in ordering and lets staff focus on food and customer service.
Taco Bell expanded its use of Omilia Voice AI to nearly 900 drive-thru locations in July.
Burkhardt said using AI in restaurants is a learning process.
She discussed the technology at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Santa Barbara, California.
- Who
- Yum! Brands and Taco Bell; the comments were made by Yum! Brands Chief Legal Officer Erika Burkhardt.
- What
- Yum! Brands says Taco Bell’s AI drive-thru ordering system helps retain employees by making their jobs easier.
- When
- Burkhardt spoke at the summit on Tuesday; the article was published October 14, 2026.
- Where
- The comments were made at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Santa Barbara, California. Taco Bell uses the system in drive-thrus.
- Why
- Burkhardt said AI reduces tension in the ordering process and allows staff to focus on food and hospitality.
- Who
- Yum! Brands and Taco Bell; the comments were made by Yum! Brands Chief Legal Officer Erika Burkhardt.
- What
- Yum! Brands says Taco Bell’s AI drive-thru ordering system helps retain employees by making their jobs easier.
- When
- Burkhardt spoke at the summit on Tuesday; the article was published October 14, 2026.
- Where
- The comments were made at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Santa Barbara, California. Taco Bell uses the system in drive-thrus.
- Why
- Burkhardt said AI reduces tension in the ordering process and allows staff to focus on food and hospitality.
AI critics
Yum! Brands
Public concerns
AI critics
Americans continue to oppose the AI buildout, and Burkhardt said she sees widespread criticism of the technology.
Yum! Brands
Burkhardt said Taco Bell’s AI drive-thru system makes restaurant jobs easier and increases employee retention.
A Taco Bell customer appeared to order 18,000 water cups through a drive-thru automated system.
Taco Bell expanded the use of Omilia Voice AI in drive-thrus to nearly 900 locations.
Erika Burkhardt discussed AI’s effects on restaurant workers at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Santa Barbara, California.
- Company
- Yum! Brands
- Restaurant brand
- Taco Bell
- AI system
- Omilia Voice AI
- Locations
- Nearly 900 drive-thrus
- Employee impact
- Burkhardt said AI is increasing retention by making restaurant jobs easier.
What people are saying
One of the things that we’ve learned through the drive-thru experience is that AI is actually increasing retention among our team members in the restaurant because it’s making their jobs easier.
They’re able to focus on the job with the product and the hospitality with the customer.
The important thing for us is to keep in mind that that’s a learning process.