Bringing AI to life in an enterprise restaurant setting: this week's coolest retail technology plays
RTIH Editor, Scott Thompson, brings you his top ‘future of retail’ systems launches and deployments from the past week, including McDonald's, DoorDash, McDonald's, Lowe's Companies, Veloq, Simbe, Snap, Pinterest, Presto, Walmart, and Selfridges.
McDonald’s and DoorDash
McDonald’s and DoorDash have announced the launch of a new US online ordering offering, allowing customers to get McDelivery via mobile web or desktop - no app downloads, logins, or accounts required. Orders are fulfilled by Dashers.
“We’re making it easy for customers to order McDonald’s wherever they are,” says Shanna Prevé, VP of Enterprise Sales & Business Development at DoorDash. “This global partnership is powered by innovation - driving sales, simplifying operations, and elevating the customer experience.”
The DoorDash powered site is accessible from McDonalds.com, with flexible payment options and no account required.
“With millions of customers visiting McDonalds.com each month, this channel extends our reach, offering a seamless and convenient way to have their favourites delivered. It reflects our continued commitment to meeting customer demands and strengthening accessibility across all touchpoints,” says Tim Snyder, Head of Delivery at McDonald’s USA.
The launch is part of a global partnership which now supports McDelivery in 29 countries. DoorDash, together with its affiliated brand Wolt, is a major delivery partner for McDonald’s in the US and other markets including Canada, Germany, Australia, Finland, and Japan.
Walmart and NBCUniversal
Media and entertainment company NBCUniversal has hosted its first Walmart Live/TalkShopLive collaboration, highlighting the newest Jurassic World Rebirth/Walmart exclusives and back to school finds.
"We had a lot of fun making this show for Walmart customers and Jurassic fans," says Jenella Young, Director, Retail Marketing at NBCUniversal Media.
Presto
Drive-thru voice AI specialist, Presto, reports that Michael Chorey, the founder of Wendy’s FreshAi platform, has joined the company to build Presto IQ, pitched as the first AI native dynamic data offering for the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry.
“I’m thrilled to become a Prestonian at such an exciting time for both the industry and the company. I’ve known the Presto team for a long time and admire their pioneering vision as well as their understanding of the restaurant industry,” says Chorey.
“I have deep experience conceptualising and bringing AI to life in an enterprise restaurant setting, but I have always believed personalisation is the key to unlocking even more value for all stakeholders. I build for the parent in the drive-thru, the crew member on their first shift, and the operator trying to make a thousand decisions. The Presto team is the only one that shares this vision, and I'm excited to bring Presto IQ to market.”
Selfridges
HYPERVSN has deployed its AI Hologram Human solution at Selfridges' store in London's Oxford Street.
In a LInkedIn post, CEO and Founder Kiryl Chykeyuk, said: "She doesn’t sleep. She doesn’t eat. She never forgets a single product detail. Will AI assistants replace us humans - in airports, banks, telco, healthcare? Our AI Hologram Human at Selfridges London talks to over 100 people, every single day. No lunch breaks. No burnout. Just consistent 24/7 customer service."
"Fluent in 100+ languages. Always smiling. Always on. Some talk to her more than they would to a real person - no shyness, no judgement. And it feels so human. And fun - lots of fun! She can take on what humans can’t always cope with: endless repetition; 24/7 shifts; hundreds of questions a day.”
“Freeing people to do the things only we can do - e.g. creativity, complex decisions. She might be the easiest hire we’ve ever made. Smart. Witty. Charismatic. This is just the beginning."
McDonald's
McDonald’s latest meal pays homage to the fast food giant’s fictional fantasy world known as McDonaldland.
The magic kingdom filled with apple pie trees and hamburger patches, and home to characters like Ronald McDonald, Grimace, Birdie, Hamburglar, Mayor McCheese and the Fry Friends, was first introduced in commercials in the early 1970s.
“For the first time in decades, we are taking fans on a trip to McDonaldland with an immersive experience that taps into the past to create the future,” says Jennifer “JJ” Healan, the company’s US Marketing, Brand, Content and Culture. “It’s a chance for us to give fans a new, modern way to experience this magical world.”
US customers can take a trip down memory lane with the McDonaldland meal at participating restaurants starting this week, for a limited time. And Fornite fans can also get involved.
In a LinkedIn post, Ashley Lewis, Managing Director at Metavision, said: “Reimagined for a new generation, the multi-channel campaign spans TV, experiential, gaming, AR, VR, the McDonald's app and in-store; heroing a limited time McDonaldland meal and shake in the US.”
He added: “On Fortnite, we're giving players a chance to jump into the McDonaldland universe themselves, with action packed mini games alongside fan favourite characters like Ronald, Grimace, Birdie and Mayor McCheese. Expect nostalgia and a playground built for your inner child.”
Pinterest has announced the opening of a new Engineering Excellence Hub in Zurich, alongside the appointments of Matthias Zenger (VP, Engineering - Platforms) and Mirjam Wattenhofer (Distinguished Engineer).
The company says that the new hub underscores its commitment to leveraging AI and machine learning technologies to enhance every stage of the user journey - from inspiration to purchase.
Zenger oversees Pinterest’s technical infrastructure and foundational engineering platforms, enabling global scale innovation across the company. He brings 25 years’ of experience in software engineering, distributed systems and commerce technologies.
Wattenhofer will lead efforts to enhance Pinterest’s e-commerce technology and global user experiences. A specialist in building robust shopping architectures, she will accelerate progress in scaling and building out the e-commerce capabilities and the infrastructure for inclusive AI.
Snap and McDonald's
Starting this week, Snapchatters in the US can travel to McDonaldland with custom AR Lenses built by Snap's innovation studio, Arcadia, to unlock games, exclusive content, and transform their local McDonald’s restaurant.
At the heart of the experience is The McDonaldland Map Lens, a 3D map that features a user’s Bitmoji alongside McDonald’s characters. To get started, people can explore the map and tap on different characters to enter into their unique experience.
It is also possible to visit any of the nearly 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants across the US to unlock the Step Into McDonaldland Lens. This AR experience uses geofencing technology to transform the walls, tables, and floors into the world of McDonaldland. If people are not at a restaurant, the Lens will guide them to the nearest one, showing them how far away it is.
The initiative promotes McDonald’s latest meal that pays homage to the fast food giant’s McDonaldland fictional fantasy world filled with apple pie trees and hamburger patches, and home to characters like Ronald McDonald, Grimace, Birdie, Hamburglar, Mayor McCheese and the Fry Friends. This was first introduced in commercials in the early 1970s.
Simbe
Simbe has announced Store Intelligence capabilities tailored for fresh departments, with the aim of delivering near real-time visibility into some of grocery’s most operationally complex and strategically important zones.
With expanded multimodal coverage across produce, deli, bakery, prepared foods, and more, Simbe says it is helping grocers reduce shrink, increase availability, and consistently deliver the fresh experiences that drive shopper trust and loyalty.
“From produce to baked goods, fresh is the performance centre of the grocery store because of its importance to shoppers,” says Brad Bogolea, Co-founder and CEO at Simbe. “Deloitte research shows they’re three times more likely to switch grocers if fresh execution falters. Simbe gives retailers the visibility and control to meet those expectations, at a time when outdated, manual processes are no longer an option.”
Walmart
Walmart has launched a new series of immersive online storefronts, with a focus on cultural movements inspired by and shaping Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
In a LinkedIn post, Justin Breton, Head of Brand Partnerships & Emerging Experiences, said: "Over a year ago, we launched Walmart Realm, an immersive shopping experience blending culture, content, and commerce to facilitate product discovery and brand reappraisal. Since then, it’s connected millions of younger shoppers with creator curated products, interactive mini-games, and trend driven storytelling through this emerging medium."
He added: "We’re now introducing our boldest wave of new immersive storefronts yet, all rooted in the cultural movements inspired by and shaping Gen Z and Gen Alpha, as we redefine how they discover, connect, and shop with our brand online. We’re starting with the vibrant K-POP Era, followed by Lo-Fi Playing, Rodeo Dreams, Nature Breaks, and Group Woosah."
The move is in support of Walmart Delivers, the US retail giant's IRL mobile pop-ups bringing these social trends to cities nationwide where consumers can expect photo booths, customisable giveaways, and interactive zones that turn shopping into an event. On 2nd September, the Walmart Delivers K-POP pop-up will be at the BABYMONSTER concert in Chicago.
Lowe's Companies
Lowe's Companies has held an AI focused 24-hour hackathon, with the aim of producing practical ideas to tackle complex business challenges.
In a LinkedIn post, Seemantini Godbole, EVP, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Lowe’s, said: "For us, AI isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a toolkit we’re using to create real, scalable solutions that reduce friction and deliver value for both our associates and our customers."
"At Lowe's AI Day, we celebrated that work and looked ahead to what’s next. We brought together brilliant minds from across legal, finance, tech, and store operations, Vincent Scalese Adam Filipponi plus industry leaders like Aravind Srinivas at Perplexity Russell Kaplan at Cognition and Alex Laubscher at Windsurf.”
The retailer capped the day with the aforementioned 24-hour hackathon.
"We didn’t just talk about what AI can do, we wrestled with what it should do! We’re committed to building with discipline, scaling responsibly, and measuring real impact, never tech for tech’s sake. That’s the work our teams do every day, and it’s inspiring to watch,” Godbole said.
Headingley Cricket Ground
The Yorkshire County Cricket Club reports that Headingley Cricket Ground has become the first sports ground in the world to partner with WelcoMe, an accessibility support system provider.
Through the integration of WelcoMe’s solution, visitors with accessible or additional needs will be able to plan their visits in advance, communicate specific support requirements, and receive a tailored experience from trained staff across the stadium.
Anna Spencer, Head of Venue Operations at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, says: “We’re delighted to be working with WelcoMe to take our accessibility provision to the next level. Cricket is a game for everyone, and it’s vital that Headingley is a place where all supporters feel valued, comfortable, and safe."
“This system gives visitors the tools to personalise their matchday experience and enables our team to provide the right support with greater awareness and understanding.”
Veloq
Veloq has take to social media to give a first look at its fulfilment centre where the newest robotic arm is officially live and picking customer orders in real-time.
In June, we reported that Rohlik Group, a European online grocer and tech specialist founded in 2014 in the Czech Republic, was launching Veloq, an AI driven grocery fulfillment platform that has powered its growth across five markets.
Rohlik currently delivers over 1.3 million monthly orders and generates €1.1 billion in annual revenue.
Developed within its grocery operations, Veloq is now launching as an independent company, bringing the technology to grocers worldwide. Built on a proprietary software stack and robotics, it unifies the entire grocery fulfillment process into a single modular platform, according to those involved.
This includes automated picking, intelligent routing, inventory forecasting and personalised customer engagement. An AI engine powers every layer of operations, including dynamic queue and labour management within fulfillment centres, supply chain forecasting and real-time last mile logistics optimisation.
In a LinkedIn post, it stated that, in under six seconds, the aforementioned fulfilment centre robotic arm “identifies the product, grips it with millimetre precision and drops it directly into the order tote. Speed and accuracy like this don’t just support same-day delivery - they’re powering later-today.”
It added: “Why this matters: Faster fulfilment = happier shoppers. Every second saved in the pick path brings the doorstep closer to the click; Reliable, 24/7 performance. With advanced vision and force-feedback, the arm handles thousands of SKUs - including delicate and irregular items - with ease; Smarter economics. Higher units per hour and always-on operation mean stronger margins for partners and lower costs per basket Our next-gen automation - purpose built for full basket grocery - is here and more innovations are on the way."
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