Culver’s to add computer vision to 1K restaurants

Through a partnership with Berry AI, the fast food chain will use the technology to measure service execution, vehicle flow and throughput to improve accuracy and speed of service.

By Julie Littman • May 1, 2026

Starbucks’ loyalty update is driving frequency as membership grows

Starbucks Rewards is no longer “a coupon book,” CEO Brian Niccol said. “We had to stop doing all that discounting. This needed to be about engagement.”

By Bryan Wassel • April 30, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

How AI is shaping the restaurant industry

Automated technology can transform restaurant systems and relieve pressure from rising operating costs, opening up new opportunities for chains looking to sharpen their value proposition. 

By Restaurant Dive staff

Chipotle expands drone pilot, accelerates equipment package deployment

New technology and the chain’s high-efficiency equipment package are helping teams perform better and improve hospitality, boosting sales.

By Julie Littman • April 30, 2026

Yum Brands wants AI and beverages to supercharge growth

The company tested AI-arranged digital menu boards at Taco Bell and created a KFC Global Innovation Pantry to transfer successful LTOs between markets.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated April 29, 2026

McDonald’s US CIO to depart, successor named

Mustafa Husain, former VP of restaurant technology engineering, will replace Valerie Ashbaugh starting May 1.

By Roberto Torres • April 24, 2026

Flytrex, Little Caesars deploy new drone for larger orders

The Sky2 drone can carry family-sized pizza delivery orders and will begin delivering from a Texas location.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 23, 2026

Why old school pizza delivery won’t disappear, despite third-party dominance

Platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash can bring new visibility and customers to pizza chains. But first-party delivery still often remains supreme.

By Danielle McLean • April 22, 2026

White Castle to deploy 1K slider kiosks

The chain will work with Automated Retail Technologies to bring the robotic technology to areas off-limits to traditional QSRs.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 22, 2026

Why restaurants are anxious about OpenTable’s new terms

The reservation platform said its partners must agree to make OpenTable their primary table management system, leading to confusion and concern over exclusivity.

By Julie Littman • April 21, 2026

Diners are becoming less loyal: Tillster

Leading brands in the restaurant sector could face greater competition from c-stores and grocery chains.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 20, 2026

Hi Auto’s latest tech targets the drive-thru pickup window

The company has partnered with three brands, including Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, to beta test technology that will monitor guest and employee interactions at the pickup window.

By Julie Littman • April 17, 2026

Dairy Queen expands drive-thru voice AI test

Franchisees will now have access to Presto’s technology after a pilot yielded positive results at company-owned stores.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 16, 2026

Starbucks lets customers discover drinks, start orders in ChatGPT

The app, in beta, takes the prompt-driven inspiration of ChatGPT and pushes customers into the Starbucks ecosystem to complete their orders.

By Bryan Wassel • April 15, 2026

Chipotle overhauls rewards system

More free items, greater redemption flexibility and an in-store campaign to boost enrollment could help the fast casual giant grow its rewards base.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 13, 2026

Why points-based loyalty programs aren’t cutting it anymore

Segment leaders like Starbucks are instead using AI-targeted messaging, aspirational experiences and gamification to nudge consumers from one-time visitors to lifetime fans, Paytronix says.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 8, 2026

Popeyes dodges lawsuit over fingerprint scans, but court leaves door open for redo

The chain allegedly violated Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act, a law that has led to several high-profile settlements.

By Ryan Golden • April 7, 2026

How a renowned restaurant uses Square to balance creativity and consistency

The beloved Jamaican restaurant, Miss Lily's, adopted Square tools to help build systems while keeping culinary creativity at the forefront.

April 6, 2026

Shake Shack will overhaul its tech with focus on AI, loyalty

The fast casual burger brand hopes a new rewards system, modernized point-of-sale platform and AI-backed operational analytics will aid its growth.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • April 2, 2026

Choosing a POS system: What restaurant operators prioritize in 2026

A practical guide to how restaurants evaluate POS systems in 2026, including real operator insights.

By Tessa Zuluaga • March 30, 2026

How OpenTable’s updated client agreements will impact restaurants

Effective April 16, the reservation platform said it will require its partner operators to agree that it is the primary table management system to ensure accuracy and guest data protections.

By Julie Littman • March 26, 2026

Why consumers love, and sometimes hate, tiered loyalty programs

Tiers add flexibility and exclusivity, but when done wrong they can feel frustratingly slow or complex.

By Bryan Wassel • March 26, 2026

Domino’s uses AI to improve Tracker pickup and delivery times

The tracking engine combines inputs from team members with machine learning to offer more accurate time estimates.

By Julie Littman • March 25, 2026

Panda Express taps tech, distribution network to keep menu fresh

The restaurant chain has only six months to lock in suppliers that can scale to demand for new menu items, Chief Supply Chain Officer Roland Ornelas said.

By Antone Gonsalves • March 24, 2026

El Pollo Loco adds big experiences to loyalty program

Personalized offers, bonus rewards and access to menu items and events, like the 2026 Major League Soccer All-Star Game, could boost engagement.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 17, 2026

The C-suite thinks your POS is working. Store leaders disagree. Here’s what the data shows.

Discover how disconnects between executives and store leaders impact restaurant tech strategy.

March 16, 2026