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Top story · In the Pro Kitchen

McDonald's plans drive-thru voice AI for most US restaurants by end of 2027

On its earnings call, McDonald's said it is widening tests of Archy, its AI drive-thru ordering system, to more US restaurants and to Australia, aiming to reach most US locations by the end of 2027. The company expects it to free up at least 50 labor hours a week and says it handles English and Spanish at over 90% accuracy. Some franchisees remain wary of the added technology costs.

Read at Restaurant Dive →

The Weekly · November 6

Prime meets Uber Eats, drive-thru voice AI scales up, and Ninja builds a microwave

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From The Old Kitchen · Thanksgiving

The Ultimate Thanksgiving: our menu, shopping list and the gear to make it

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In the Pro Kitchen

LG and SoundHound will let diners order restaurant food from their smart TVs

LG Electronics and SoundHound AI plan to launch restaurant ordering on US LG Smart TVs in December, reaching about 20 million sets. Viewers can order by talking to a voice AI agent or by browsing on screen and scanning a QR code to pay on their phone. Restaurants pay a standard pickup or delivery commission, with no subscription or new in-store hardware; the first participating brands are due to be named toward year end.

Fast Casual → · Nov 9

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In the Pro Kitchen

Press release

National Restaurant Association survey: 39% of operators now use AI tools

The Association's new Future of Restaurant Technology report, based on a summer survey of 212 operators, says 82% feel technology has helped their business and 38.6% use AI tools, though only 3.2% are rolling AI out companywide. Cost (48.8%) and doubts about fit and value (43.8%) are the biggest barriers. Nearly half expect technology to raise labor productivity.

National Restaurant Association via PR Newswire → · Nov 6

Weekend Recipe · Sous vide circulator

Sous Vide Pork Chop with Pan-Fried Fingerlings

A thick bone-in rib chop cooks in a 140°F water bath for 45 minutes, then gets a fast butter sear in cast iron. Fingerling potatoes crisp up in the same pan, so dinner for two comes together with one skillet.

See the recipe
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At Home

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Press release

Beko's FlexiStart will run your dishwasher when power is cheapest, from January

A new FlexiStart feature in Beko's HomeWhiz app times connected dishwashers, washers and dryers to lower-priced electricity hours, either from a partner energy company's tariff or hours you enter yourself. It starts in January 2027 with energy-provider links in Germany and Türkiye after a Dutch pilot; fridges and air conditioners are due later in 2027.

Beko via PR Newswire → · Nov 6

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Photo: AS_Photography / Pixabay

Gaggenau's new wine cabinets read each bottle's temperature with infrared

Gaggenau launched its 10-model Vario Cooling Expressive range of built-in fridges, freezers and wine cabinets in Australia this week. The wine units use an infrared sensor to bring a bottle to serving temperature automatically and run up to three climate zones; the fridges manage temperature, humidity and ethylene. All have a 6.8-inch display and Home Connect app control. No prices were given.

Appliance Retailer → · Nov 6

In the Pro Kitchen

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Press release

Delivery-robot maker Serve Robotics now sells its fleet technology to others

Serve, whose robots deliver for more than 4,000 restaurants, launched Physical AI Services on Nov 5: tools that keep robots connected to off-board AI models, pick out useful field data for training, and a data catalog from its sidewalk runs. Construction-automation firm Bedrock Robotics is the first customer. Serve says it has deployed over 2,000 robots in 40+ cities; no pricing was given.

Serve Robotics via GlobeNewswire → · Nov 6

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Wonder files confidentially for an IPO, aiming to be ready early next year

Marc Lore's Wonder said on Nov 5 it has confidentially submitted draft IPO paperwork to the SEC; share count and price range aren't set. The delivery-first food hall company, which owns Grubhub, Blue Apron and Tastemade, runs about 170 East Coast sites with 20 to 30 concepts each and plans to enter Texas next year. It says robotics and AI will automate its kitchens to make delivery cheaper.

Nation's Restaurant News → · Nov 6

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Photo: DesignDrawArtes / Pixabay

Uber says AI agents placed just 500 delivery orders in a 320-million-trip week

On its Nov 4 earnings call, Uber said AI assistants such as Meta's Muse and OpenAI's Dots originated only about 500 Uber Eats orders in a week of roughly 320 million rides and deliveries, and its CFO called traction very early. Uber is building its own agents and, like DoorDash, says it will keep working with outside ones. For restaurants, agent ordering is still a sliver of digital sales.

Nation's Restaurant News → · Nov 5

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Photo: viarami / Pixabay

Amazon Prime members can now order Uber Eats with $0 delivery fees

Amazon and Uber have launched a Prime perk that waives Uber Eats delivery fees in nearly 10,000 US cities, covering hundreds of thousands of restaurants from Chipotle and Wingstop to local independents. Members order with their Amazon login and payment, with no separate Uber account, and get $20 off their first two $25+ orders in the first 14 days. For operators already on Uber Eats, it opens the app to Amazon's Prime base.

QSR Web → · Nov 5

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Starbucks plans in-app delivery for 2027 and is testing AI in the drive-thru

Starbucks will add delivery to its own app in the second quarter of 2027, with Rewards members earning and redeeming points on those orders. It is also testing AI to help baristas take drive-thru orders, and plans drive-thrus that recognize customers on arrival with personalized digital menus. Starbucks Rewards reached 36 million active members in its fourth quarter; the company gave no figures yet for the AI tests.

Restaurant Dive → · Nov 4