McDonald’s Rolls Out AI Technology to Predict When Ice Cream Machines Will Break Down and Tackle Employees' 'Stress'

Mar. 15, 2025

McDonald’s store in Austin.Photo:Brandon Bell/Getty

Brandon Bell/Getty

McDonald’slatest change doesn’t come with a side of fries.

The home of the Big Mac is updating 43,000 restaurants with AI technology to target “stress” that employees deal with, McDonald’s Chief Information Officer Brian Rice toldTheWall Street Journalon Wednesday, March 5.

“Our restaurants, frankly, can be very stressful. We have customers at the counter, we have customers at our drive-through, couriers coming in for delivery, delivery at curbside. That’s a lot to deal with for our crew,” Rice said.

McDonald’s Ice Cream Cones.Alamy Stock Photo

Rice explained that the technology setup, called edge computing, is meant to quickly send data “to the cloud” so franchisees can see how their restaurants are operating. That data can include predictions about when kitchen equipment like fryers orinfamously faulty ice cream machineswill break down. Edge computing can also be used for AI-powered communication for the drive-through.

While the AI news might not satisfy anyone’s hunger, the chain restaurant launched acelebrity-driven breakfast campaignon Monday, March 3.

Justone day after the 97th Academy Awards, McDonald’s dropped a new commercial that spotlights Oscar-nominated actors and other attendees' go-to breakfast items.

“There’s only one meal Hollywood relies on,” the commercial declares, as order receipts featuring meals forMichael B. Jordan(two egg and cheese McMuffins and two hash browns with strawberry jelly), Jackie Chan (Sausage Egg McGriddle, apple pie and black coffee),Kieran Culkin(one small Coke) and many others.

source: people.com