Ordering kiosks, apps and AI voice ordering at the drive-through are changing how people order fast food. Someone still has to cook it, pack it, keep the place clean and deal with the order that came out wrong.
The short answer: current evidence does not point to AI replacing fast food workers. The ILO's 2025 index rates fast food preparers as not exposed to generative AI, at 0.18. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6 percent growth for fast food and counter workers from 2025 to 2035, and about 1,078,500 openings a year across food and beverage serving jobs. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed fast food workers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Food Service Counter Attendants | Not exposed | 0.24 |
| Fast Food Preparers | Not exposed | 0.18 |
| Kitchen Helpers | Not exposed | 0.13 |
The ILO index measures generative AI, not ordering kiosks or kitchen machines.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Fast food and counter workers | Grow 6% | Part of 1,078,500 for all food and beverage serving workers |
| Food and beverage serving workers (all) | Grow 5% | About 1,078,500 |
The BLS expects more restaurants, especially fast food and casual dining, as people keep eating out, buying take-out and ordering delivery.
What technology is taking on
- Ordering and payment through kiosks and apps.
- Voice ordering at some drive-throughs.
- Kitchen screens that route and time orders.
- Staff schedules and stock forecasts.
What stays with the fast food worker
- Food: preparing orders such as sandwiches and coffee, safely and quickly.
- Customers: answering menu questions, serving at the counter and fixing wrong orders.
- Teamwork: passing orders to kitchen staff and keeping the line moving at rush hour.
- Checking: voice orders and kiosk orders can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Less time goes to taking orders and more to preparing them, handling delivery and app orders and helping customers who get stuck. For restaurant kitchens, see will AI replace chefs?
See also will AI replace cashiers?, will AI replace retail workers? and jobs safe from AI
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for food and beverage serving and related workers at $31,710 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: no formal educational credential. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace fast food workers?
Not on current evidence. The ILO rates fast food preparers not exposed to generative AI (0.18), and the BLS projects 6 percent growth for fast food and counter workers from 2025 to 2035.
Will kiosks replace fast food workers?
Kiosks and apps take over some ordering, but food preparation and service still need people, and the BLS still projects growth.
How many food serving openings are expected?
The BLS projects about 1,078,500 openings a year for food and beverage serving and related workers.
What fast food work stays human?
Preparing food, serving and helping customers, working as a team and fixing orders automation gets wrong.