Burger King’s Patty AI system is trained to recognize key phrases like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’|Edward Hands|CC BY-SA 4.0
Burger King is introducing an OpenAI-powered voice assistant, Patty, designed to live in employees’ headsets, monitor customer service, and streamline operations.
The system is trained to recognize key phrases such as “please” and “thank you,” allowing the brand to track employee friendliness across locations. The company clarifies that the AI system is not intended to score or penalize individuals.
Beyond monitoring, Patty helps restaurant staff with tasks, like automatically delisting out-of-stock items from digital menus. Its virtual assistant can answer preparation questions mid-service and analyze drive-thru order audio.
The AI rollout is set to hit 500 pilot locations by the end of 2026. Analysts note that while Burger King is introducing chatbots to employees, rivals like McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Taco Bell are testing AI drive-thrus.
Burger King also recently announced that its best-selling Whopper is getting a makeover, the first in nearly a decade. The new burger will have better-tasting buns, more vegetables, and will be served in a box.