Burger King has introduced an AI chatbot to support staff in US restaurants.
The system connects to employee headsets through a platform called BK Assistant.
OpenAI technology powers the voice tool.
The assistant, named Patty, listens during customer interactions.
It can recognise polite expressions such as “welcome”, “please”, and “thank you”.
The company says the system helps managers understand service patterns.
The announcement triggered strong criticism on social media.
A company spokesperson denied that the tool scores individual workers.
Managers will use the data for coaching and team recognition.
The company aims to improve service quality, not enforce scripts.
The platform also updates digital menus when items sell out.
It guides staff during food preparation after each order.
The system can report cleaning needs in the restaurant.
It also monitors drive-through conversations to improve order accuracy.
Burger King is testing the headset in 500 locations.
All US restaurants should receive the platform by the end of 2026.
The launch follows McDonald’s decision to remove its automated AI drive-through voice from more than 100 sites.
