McDonald’s introduces global menu items and AI drive-thru technology

McDonald’s is implementing several changes to its customer experience, ranging from menu offerings to technological integration. At its corporate headquarters in Chicago, the company has introduced a ‘Global Favorites’ menu. This limited-time selection features items inspired by international locations, including the Bacon BBQ Stack from the U.K. and the Bacon Hot Honey McCrispy from Canada.

Simultaneously, the company is increasing its reliance on artificial intelligence and automation within its drive-thru operations. McDonald’s has been experimenting with AI-powered voice ordering systems designed to recognize everyday language and process orders more efficiently. While intended to speed up service and reduce manual labor, the technology faces challenges in noisy environments where background noise and accents can affect voice recognition accuracy.