Sonic to Beta Test AI-Powered Voice Ordering

As the 100th annual National Restaurant Association Show came to a close in Chicago on Tuesday, attendees were left with a clear impression of the trends taking hold in the restaurant industry. We recently reported on the surge in plant-based protein options on display at this year’s NRA Show; now, we’re diving into the new technology tools cropping up in the industry.

Among the tech-forward displays at the NRA Show came courtesy of Sonic Drive-In, which announced it will be beta testing artificial intelligence-powered voice ordering at select locations later this year.

According to Nation’s Restaurant News, Sonic has partnered with Mastercard and self-serve kiosk company Zivelo for the pilot, which will feature AI-powered menu boards that use voice assistants to take an order, personalizing the experience for customers though the Sonic loyalty app.

“Voice AI promises to provide carefree conversational ordering that complements the overall experience,” Sonic’s VP of integrated customer engagement, Jon Dorch, said in a statement included in the article. “We anticipate AI integration will also provide opportunities to streamline repeat orders, personalize suggestions based on data, and offer rewards that are truly relevant.”