White Castle has opened a new technology-driven restaurant in Ohio that it believes will usher in a “new era of restaurant design.”
The burger chain, famed for its iconic square sliders, said its new “Castle of Tomorrow” location in Columbus features an upgraded “robotic fry station assistant,” an AI-powered drive-thru system as well as “easy-to-use self-service kiosks”—additions which underscore its commitment to meeting “the needs of modern diners and team members alike.”
Why It Matters
With its “forward-thinking” revamp, White Castle joins other major chains that have aggressively incorporated tech and AI into the dining experience. Wendy’s says generative AI has helped shave seconds off customer wait times, Carl’s Jr. has implemented AI in its drive-thru systems to take orders and suggest add-ons, and McDonald’s in March announced plans to overhaul 43,000 restaurants with AI-powered technology to detect equipment issues and improve order accuracy.
Experts believe such changes can smooth the ordering process and increase customer flows, but caution that some patrons may be offput by the less human dining experience.
What To Know
The new prototype restaurant, which opened earlier this month, is located on Alum Creek Drive in downtown Columbus…