---
title: "Dairy Queen expands drive-thru voice AI test"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/25d1619a-e8f3-4cfc-a4e9-13345b4e9e08
source: "Restaurant Dive"
original_url: https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/presto-dairy-queen-drive-thru-voice-automation-franchisees/817574/
category: "Snacks & dessert"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Snacks & dessert"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit","Technology","Operations"]
published: 2026-04-16T00:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T14:29:26.989Z
image: https://imgproxy.divecdn.com/zjyH6a8wSBexm8ScuqRt7kAyYTBufCifZ4RddaZxHW4/g:ce/rs:fit:770:435/Z3M6Ly9kaXZlc2l0ZS1zdG9yYWdlL2RpdmVpbWFnZS9EUS5qcGc=.webp
---

# Dairy Queen expands drive-thru voice AI test

**TL;DR:** Dairy Queen is expanding its pilot of Presto's drive-thru voice AI technology to 25 franchisees after successful testing in company-operated units. The technology will be deployed in phases, with the goal of eventually reaching all 3,000 of Dairy Queen's US and Canadian drive-thrus.

*originally published in Restaurant Dive on 2026-04-16. [Read the original](https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/presto-dairy-queen-drive-thru-voice-automation-franchisees/817574/).*

## Story

Franchisees will now have access to Presto’s technology after a pilot yielded positive results at company-owned stores.

Presto Phoenix and Dairy Queen will expand their pilot of Presto’s drive-thru voice AI technology “to select franchisees around the country,” after successful testing in the brand’s company-operated units, according to a Thursday press release .

A Presto spokesperson said the expansion would reach at least 25 franchisees across at least 25 U.S. states and Canadian provinces and that the company intends to eventually deploy the tech across substantially all 3,000 of Dairy Queen’s U.S. and Canadian drive-thrus. The deployment will occur in phases, with the first happening over the next few weeks to capitalize on the advent of ice cream season.

According to its franchise disclosure documents, Dairy Queen had two company-operated units in 2025 and about 1,985 franchised locations of its Grill & Chill and 743 of its limited-menu Treats stores in the U.S.

“Presto has been an excellent partner and our initial results using their AI look quite promising,” Kevin Baartman, Dairy Queen’s executive vice president of IT, said in the press release. “ With Presto’s AI, we can enable our staff to focus on high-value tasks that ultimately benefit our Fans, with a friendly experience, and high order accuracy.”

Presto declined to share more specific performance figures.

Presto pivoted from a dual focus on tablet-based payments and voice AI to a singular focus on AI in 2024. The company has worked with QSRs ranging from CKE to Wienerschnitzel .

In January, the automation firm raised $10 million in new funding to support its expansion.

Krishna Gupta, one of the firm’s co-founders, returned to Presto’s CEO role earlier this year, succeeding Gee Lefevre, who led Presto through its pivot to AI and subsequent Nasdaq de-listing . The company sold itself to a consortium of investors in late 2024 and changed its name from Presto Automation to Presto Phoenix .

## Entities

- QSR (sector)
- Restaurant Dive (publication)
- Dairy Queen (company)
- qsr innovation (topic)
- drive-thru technology (topic)
- voice ai (topic)
- Kevin Baartman (person)
- Krishna Gupta (person)
- franchisee adoption (topic)
- Presto Phoenix (company)
- Gee Lefevre (person)
- ai expansion (topic)

---
Originally reported by Restaurant Dive (https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/presto-dairy-queen-drive-thru-voice-automation-franchisees/817574/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/25d1619a-e8f3-4cfc-a4e9-13345b4e9e08).