Burger King is testing AI headsets that will know if employees say welcome' or thank you'

"The system collects data on restaurant operations and shares it via Patty, a voice that talks to employees through their headsets. If the drink machine is low on Diet Coke, Patty will tell the store's manager. If a customer uses a QR code to report a messy bathroom, the manager will be alerted. Employees can ask Patty how to make various menu items or tell Patty to remove items from digital menus if they've run out of ingredients."

"The system can track when employees say key words like welcome, please and thank you and share that with managers. When asked about that capability Thursday by The Associated Press, Burger King said the intent is to use Patty as a coaching tool, not a tracker of individual employees. It's not about scoring individuals or enforcing scripts."

"We believe hospitality is fundamentally human. The role of this technology is to support our teams so they can stay present with guests. Patty is part of a larger app-based BK Assistant platform that will be available to all U.S. restaurants later this year."

Burger King is testing AI-powered headsets equipped with OpenAI technology across 500 U.S. restaurants. The system, called Patty, provides voice-guided assistance to employees through headsets and collects operational data. Patty alerts managers about low inventory levels, customer complaints like messy bathrooms, and helps employees recall recipes or manage menu items based on ingredient availability. The technology also tracks employee use of hospitality keywords such as welcome, please, and thank you to provide managers with real-time service insights. Burger King emphasizes that Patty functions as a coaching and support tool rather than individual employee surveillance. The headset system is part of the broader BK Assistant platform launching to all U.S. restaurants later this year.

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