In 2019, McDonald's Corporation purchased Apprente that applies artificial intelligence software to interpret and record verbal orders in drive-through lanes. The technology is currently under test at ten restaurants in Chicago, but accuracy is currently only at 85 percent. McDonald's has indicated that additional development will take up to two years.
Based on difficulty in recruiting workers and high wages, McDonald's is implementing 
automation some aspects of which may take five years to develop.
CEO, Chris Kempczinski, indicated that additional acquisitions may be required to jump start automation.