---
title: "Chatbots at the drive-thru are just the beginning"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/286672159.md"
description: "McDonald's introduced AI chatbots at drive-thrus in 2021, starting with 10 locations in Chicago. This technology was developed after acquiring Apprente, a startup specializing in voice-based conversational tech. The integration of AI in fast food is just the beginning of its impact on daily life."
datetime: "2026-05-17T12:17:20.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/286672159.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286672159.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/286672159.md)
---

# Chatbots at the drive-thru are just the beginning

_This is_ The Stepback_, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more news about how AI is seeping into our daily lives,_ _follow Emma Roth__._ The Stepback _arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for_ The Stepback _here__._

## How it started

In 2021, McDonald's became one of the first major fast-food chains to greet customers with an AI chatbot at the drive-thru. It started small, deploying the voice-ordering technology at 10 of its locations in Chicago. McDonald's developed its drive-thru tech after acquiring Apprente, a startup focused on voice-based, conversational technology in 2019, and later wor …

Read the full story at The Verge.

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