Burger King is testing artificial intelligence-powered employee headsets that monitor staff interactions with customers and oversee store operations.
The AI system, called BK Assistant, compiles "friendliness scores" at the fast-food chain's locations based on employees' conversations, according to a promotional video the company shared with the BBC.
The chain is currently piloting the system at 500 US restaurants, a spokesperson for Burger King said.
An AI chat-bot dubbed "Patty", embedded in the headsets, answers questions from employees about how to prepare menu items and flags when a product needs restocking. But its ability to monitor restaurant staff tees up a debate about surveillance.
Burger King's chief digital officer told online publication The Verge that the fast-food outlet had trained the OpenAI-powered system to identify terms including "please" and "thank you" in order to evaluate staff friendliness.
