Updated
Updated · Fox Business · Jul 8
Taco Bell Expands Omilia Voice AI to 890 Drive-Thrus Across 38 States
Updated
Updated · Fox Business · Jul 8

Taco Bell Expands Omilia Voice AI to 890 Drive-Thrus Across 38 States

3 articles · Updated · Fox Business · Jul 8

Summary

  • Taco Bell said it has deployed Omilia’s voice AI at more than 890 restaurants in 38 states, widening a partnership that began rolling out at U.S. drive-thrus in 2023.
  • The system automates speaker-box ordering and adjusts to each store’s menu, real-time stock levels and limited-time offers, aiming to cut staff workload while keeping service speed at least in line with traditional ordering.
  • Taco Bell said restaurants using the technology reported higher employee retention, which it linked to giving workers more flexibility to focus on customer interactions.
  • Omilia said its platform was built for noisy, fast-moving drive-thru conditions where general-purpose speech recognition often struggles with road noise, accents and complex order changes.

Insights

Taco Bell's AI promises happier staff, but can a robot truly master the chaotic art of a complex, custom drive-thru order?
As McDonald's reboots its AI drive-thru, can Taco Bell's system avoid the costly, viral glitches that plagued early industry attempts?