Culver’s has partnered with Berry AI to offer vision artificial intelligence across 1,000 restaurants nationwide, the companies said in a Wednesday press release.
The rollout will occur throughout this year, starting during the second quarter, Berry AI CEO Eric Lam wrote in an email.
Berry AI’s technology uses advanced camera vision to provide real-time measurements of service execution, vehicle flow, throughput and other performance metrics, the press release said. This technology includes a privacy framework to protect guests and team members, according to the press release.
“Berry AI’s vision technology will elevate our guests’ experiences by empowering our restaurant teams to make informed decisions that improve speed and ensure accuracy,” Rich Modjeski, Culver’s chief operating officer, said in a statement.
Franchisees will work with Berry AI’s onboarding and installation teams to help install hardware and configure any software, Lam said. Berry AI will also integrate with POS data at each location, offering operators additional insights on how specific menu items impact speed of service, he said.
“With these understandings [sic], operators can make more strategic decisions to optimize their operations by reducing customer wait times, reducing food waste, and aligning labor deployment more effectively,” he said.
Berry AI claims in the press release that its technology has led to up to a 70% increase in drive-thru comps and a 20% to 40% reduction in drive-thru times, while improving throughput by up to 20%
“Berry AI's work with over 1,000 locations previously has given us deep understandings of the different needs of front-line teams, and the needs of above store leadership,” Lam said. “Using those understandings to collaborate with Culver’s, we have been able to customize our powerful offerings to the specific needs of Culver’s operators, and the Culver’s brand leadership.”
Lam said some QSRs have been slow to adopt AI “due to misconceptions about cost and privacy.”
“Using AI-powered tools for QSRs empowers operators to run more efficient and profitable operations,” Lam said. “With food costs rising, and a general shift in QSR traffic, AI tools give operators and brand-level leaders the insight they need to compete at a higher level.”
Other chains have been exploring similar AI tools, including Portillo’s, which tested computer vision in 2025 to help improve drive-thru times. Berry AI partnered with Zaxbys last year.
More brands, including Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Bojangles and CKE, have largely focused on using drive-thru voice AI to free up employees to focus on hospitality. McDonald’s said it is looking into using various AI technology, particularly in the back of house, over a year after it ended its IBM drive-thru voice order test. However, AI has not always proven to be effective, and Taco Bell slowed down its drive-thru AI deployment last year after various issues arose during the ordering process.
