Burger King's 'Patty' AI will monitor drive-thru politeness and restocking
Feb 27th 2026
An OpenAI powered assistant called Patty will sit in Burger King headsets to help staff with recipes and restocking and to score drive-thru friendliness, a move the company says will streamline operations but that critics say raises surveillance concerns.
- Patty is an OpenAI powered chat bot embedded in employee headsets that answers prep questions and flags low stock.
- The system analyses drive-thru audio and was trained to identify words including "please" and "thank you" to evaluate staff friendliness, company executives told The Verge.
- Restaurant Brands International says the tool is designed to streamline operations so managers and staff can focus on service and leadership.
- A company spokesperson told the BBC that all US Burger King restaurants will have access to the BK Assistant platform by the end of 2026.
- A promotional video shows Patty notifying staff about low Diet Coke levels and reporting friendliness scores, prompting online backlash over workplace surveillance.