AI’m Lovin’ It: Yum! Brands and Nvidia partner to cook up the future of fast food at KFC, Pizza Hut, and more

Yum Foods X Nvidia

Whether it’s a late-night pizza craving or quick desserts after dinner, fast food is all about getting what you want, when you want it—hot, fresh, and fast. But behind the scenes, keeping up with orders, managing rush hours, and delivering them on time is no easy task. That’s why Yum! Brands—the name behind KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell—is teaming up with NVIDIA to bring AI into the kitchen.

At the NVIDIA GTC conference, Yum! announced a big partnership with NVIDIA to introduce AI-powered solutions across its restaurants. This year, they plan to roll out AI in 500 locations. The AI integration will be done to make ordering faster, reducing mistakes, and even helping restaurant teams manage busy hours more efficiently.

Yum! is already the biggest restaurant company in the world, with over 61,000 locations. With so many customers coming in daily, AI can help in several ways:

How will AI help restaurants

–AI-powered voice assistants are being tested at Pizza Hut and Taco Bell locations. These virtual assistants can understand speech, take orders, and even suggest extra items—just like a friendly cashier.

–AI is being used to analyze drive-thru traffic and adjust staffing in real time, making sure customers aren’t stuck waiting too long.

–AI can track what makes a top-performing store successful and apply those insights across different locations.

The rollout has already started. AI voice assistants are handling phone orders at call centers, especially during rush hours like game nights, when Pizza Hut gets flooded with orders. With AI helping out, human employees can focus on preparing food and providing great service.

For customers, this means faster service, fewer mistakes, and a smoother experience—whether they’re ordering online, at the counter, or in the drive-thru. And for Yum! Brands, it means staying ahead in an industry that’s always evolving.

AI won’t be replacing humans, but it will make their jobs easier. As the partnership with NVIDIA expands, we might soon see AI playing an even bigger role in how we order and enjoy fast food.