McDonald's to Double Down on AI Investments by 2027, Expand Globally

McDonald's plans to double its AI investments by 2027, with a focus on streamlining customer orders and sharpening business operations. The fast-food giant currently uses AI to verify orders at 400 restaurants in India and plans to roll out the system globally in two years. AI is also being leveraged to forecast sales, determine pricing strategies, and evaluate product performance. India is playing an increasingly central role in McDonald's global tech strategy, with plans to make Hyderabad its largest global office outside the US.

McDonald's (MCD.N) is set to significantly increase its artificial intelligence (AI) investments by 2027, according to a senior executive. The fast-food giant, which entered the Indian market in 1996, is planning to double down on its AI efforts, with a focus on streamlining customer orders and enhancing business operations [1].

Currently, McDonald's uses AI to verify orders at 400 restaurants in India. The company aims to roll out this system globally to 40,000 locations by 2027 [1]. Beyond order accuracy, McDonald's is leveraging AI to forecast sales, determine pricing strategies, and evaluate product performance [2]. The company is also developing a personalized mobile app that will function across multiple countries.

India is playing an increasingly central role in McDonald's global tech strategy. Hyderabad, where McDonald's recently set up a global office, is expected to become the largest outside the United States [1]. The company is also exploring the launch of a new global office in Poland, modeled after its existing hubs in India and Mexico [1].

McDonald's previous attempts at AI integration have seen mixed results. Last summer, the company scrapped a separate drive-thru voice-ordering initiative after telling franchisees the technology failed to meet expectations in early trials [2].

References:
1. Reuters. (2025, Aug 1). McDonald's plans to double down on AI investments by 2027, executive says. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/mcdonalds-plans-double-down-ai-investment-by-2027-executive-says-2025-08-01/
2. Fox Business. (2025, Aug 1). McDonald’s is ramping up its use of artificial intelligence to streamline customer orders and sharpen its business operations, with plans to "double down" on AI investments by 2027, a senior executive said on Friday. Retrieved from https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/mcdonalds-plans-major-ai-expansion-streamline-customer-orders-executive-says