Taco Bell Parent Yum Brands Partners with Nvidia to Speed Up Its Use of AI

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Taco Bell parent Yum Brands partners with Nvidia to develop and deploy AI-powered solutions across its restaurants, including Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill. The collaboration will focus on AI-driven voice ordering, customer insights, and operational efficiency to enhance the fast-food giant’s digital transformation.

The first major rollout will feature AI-driven voice ordering at drive-throughs and phone orders, developed using Nvidia’s AI tools and frameworks. This system will begin deployment at 500 locations in the second quarter of this year.

Yum Brands is also leveraging AI to improve customer experience and operational efficiency, aiming to transition all orders to digital channels instead of using human order-takers.

Also Read: Nvidia Announces the Blackwell Ultra and Vera Rubin AI Superchips

How AI is Transforming Yum Brands with Nvidia

Key AI-Powered Innovations

  • AI-Driven Voice Ordering – AI-powered voice assistants will handle drive-through and phone orders, reducing errors and wait times.
  • Computer Vision for Order Accuracy – Nvidia’s AI tools will be used to detect incorrect or missing food items in orders using existing CCTV cameras.
  • AI-Driven Customer Insights – AI will analyze customer reviews and social media chatter to generate actionable insights for restaurant managers.
  • In-House AI Development – Unlike competitors that rely on third-party AI vendors, Yum Brands is building its own AI solutions using Nvidia’s NIM microservices and powerful GPUs.

These initiatives will be housed under “Byte by Yum,” Yum Brands’ proprietary AI platform for digital transformation.

Yum Brands’ AI Strategy: Why It Matters

  • Shifting to 100% Digital Orders: Yum Brands is pushing for a fully digital ordering experience—currently, over 50% of orders are digital, up from 19% in 2019.
  • Boosting Sales and Personalization: Digital channels allow AI-powered upselling and targeted promotions, leading to higher customer spending.
  • Improving Order Accuracy: AI-driven computer vision and analytics will reduce incorrect orders and customer complaints.
  • Enhancing Customer Service: With AI handling routine tasks, human employees will focus on customer interactions and hospitality.

“We love everything about digital sales,” said Joe Park, Yum’s Chief Digital and Technology Officer.
“AI-driven solutions like voice-ordering and personalized promotions are key in today’s market.”

Why Nvidia is the Right AI Partner

  • AI Customization: Yum Brands is developing proprietary AI solutions using Nvidia’s AI frameworks rather than relying on pre-built third-party tools.
  • Cost Reduction and Scalability: By maximizing GPU efficiency, Yum can scale AI adoption across 61,000+ locations while keeping costs down.
  • AI Expertise: Nvidia’s AI team is actively collaborating with Yum’s 2,000 in-house technologists to create optimized AI applications.

“We want to own the intellectual property. We want to own the technology,” Park said.
“That’s a shift in our strategy as we think about AI.”

The Future of AI in Fast Food

Yum Brands is betting big on AI, joining competitors like McDonald’s and Wendy’s in the race for automation-driven efficiency. However, unlike its rivals, Yum Brands is focusing on in-house AI innovation rather than third-party solutions.

Key Takeaways:

  • AI-driven voice ordering will launch in 500 locations in Q2 2025.
  • Yum Brands is building proprietary AI solutions with Nvidia.
  • The company aims to transition to 100% digital ordering.
  • AI-driven insights will improve order accuracy and customer engagement.

With AI-powered voice ordering, predictive analytics, and automation, Yum Brands and Nvidia are shaping the future of fast food.

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