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."

"Burger King said it's also exploring using Patty as a way to improve customer service. The system can track when employees say key words like "welcome," "please" and "thank you" and share that with managers."

""It's not about scoring individuals or enforcing scripts. It's about reinforcing great hospitality and giving managers helpful, real-time insights so they can recognize their teams more effectively," Burger King said in a statement."

Restaurant Brands International is piloting OpenAI-powered headsets in Burger King locations across the United States. The system, named Patty, communicates with employees through voice to alert managers about low inventory levels, customer complaints, and operational issues. Employees can query Patty for recipe instructions and menu management. The technology also monitors service quality by tracking when employees use specific courtesy words like "welcome," "please," and "thank you." Burger King frames this capability as a coaching tool to help managers recognize team performance and improve hospitality rather than as individual employee surveillance. The broader BK Assistant platform will expand to all U.S. restaurants later this year.

Read at ABC7 Los Angeles