What happens when customers flirt with their AI Order Taker at the drive-thru? That’s the question FOX News explored in a new segment featuring Hi Auto, and a surprising trend that’s been popping up across our AI Order Taking systems in quick service restaurants nationwide.
A Lighthearted Story, with a Real Insight
At Hi Auto, we build AI Order Taker to make drive-thru ordering faster and smoother, and drive better guest experiences. Along the way, we noticed something unexpected: sometimes, customers get a little playful with the AI.
Some of our favorites:
“Are you single?”
“You sound cute.”
“Can I get your number, miss computer?”
The team at FOX reached out to learn more, and our CEO Roy Baharav, joined the segment to share some perspective on why this is happening and what it says about the future of human-AI interaction.
What We’ve Seen and Shared
In the FOX News interview, Roy discussed how Hi Auto’s AI Order Taking system is designed with tone in mind, not to imitate humans, but to feel calm, clear, and conversational. That subtle design choice seems to be making people more relaxed, and occasionally more personal than expected.
Roy noted that these interactions underscore an important insight: the tone and phrasing of the AI Order Taker play a powerful role in how people engage, shaping experiences that feel more natural, personal, and even enjoyable.
Hi Auto’s AI Order Taker is live in hundreds of drive-thru lanes, handling millions of orders per month. These conversations, while sometimes humorous, are helping us understand what builds trust and comfort in automated customer experiences.
Why It Matters
In fast food, speed and accuracy are non-negotiable. That’s why an AI Order Taker must deliver consistent, efficient performance while freeing up staff to focus on hospitality. But there’s more to great service than just getting the order right. Tone matters. When the AI sounds calm, clear, and conversational, people don’t just interact with it, they connect.
What It Reveals About the Future of Human-AI Interaction
The unexpected flirtation isn’t just funny, it’s revealing. It shows that when AI communicates in a way that feels natural, people feel at ease and engage more openly. That’s a powerful signal for the future of automation. Emotional tone, when paired with precision and performance, becomes a force multiplier.
When the AI delivers higher accuracy than human staff, knows exactly when and how to upsell, and provides a consistent guest experience across every location, it stops being just a tool, it becomes a strategic asset. A voice that earns trust doesn’t just improve service, it drives repeat visits, lifts check size, and turns the drive-thru into a branded moment QSRs can count on.
Want to know more?
Contact us to talk about your stores, operations, and the specific parameters and business objectives we can help you improve with Hi Auto, just like we’re doing for corporate QSRs and franchisees around the world.
