Will AI replace drive thru attendants?

Why AI struggles to replace this job

• Robots still struggle with the high-dexterity task of handing varying bags and drinks to different vehicle heights.
• Dealing with frustrated customers who have complex, non-standard complaints requires human empathy and intuition.
• AI cannot easily perform physical maintenance tasks like cleaning up spills or fixing a jammed receipt printer.
• Managing unexpected physical lane obstructions or equipment malfunctions requires human spatial awareness.

Tasks AI could automate

• Processing customer orders through voice-to-text recognition software.
• Processing credit card and mobile wallet payments at the window.
• Suggestive selling and upselling based on real-time inventory levels.
• Calculating and displaying total costs and estimated wait times.

The 10-year outlook

Employment in this specific niche will likely decline as kiosks and mobile ordering take over. Human workers will transition into 'troubleshooters' who oversee multiple automated lanes rather than taking every individual order.

Common questions