McDonald’s Archy AI completes roughly 90% of drive-thru orders without human help

McDonald’s AI voice assistant, known as Archy, is now completing roughly 90% of drive-thru orders without any human stepping in. The system handles both English and Spanish, processes modifications, confirms totals, and keeps the line moving. The achievement is notable partly because McDonald’s has been down this road before. The company scrapped an IBM-powered AI drive-thru pilot in 2024 after accuracy problems made it more frustrating than helpful. Archy, built in partnership with Google under the broader ArchIQ platform, appears to be the do-over that actually works. From five locations to international expansion McDonald’s began testing ArchIQ in June 2026 at five US locations, timing the launch with the company’s Worldwide Convention in Las Vegas. By September 2026, testing had expanded to over a dozen US sites. McDonald’s also initiated trials in Australia, making Archy its first international AI ordering deployment. A franchisee involved in the pilot reported that Archy had processed more than one million orders during the testing period. What Archy actually does The system works as a voice-based ordering assistant embedded in the drive-thru lane. Customers pull up, speak th...