Square has introduced conversational AI ordering kiosks that allow restaurant customers to place orders by speaking naturally instead of navigating menus entirely through touchscreens. The new Square Kiosk uses agentic AI, which can respond to questions and make decisions based on menu information, to help guests explore options, request substitutions, and receive personalized recommendations.
The device features a 21.5-inch touchscreen, voice assistance, and integrated payment capabilities. It can also suggest additional items based on popular choices, the time of day, or products already selected. Customers can switch between speaking and tapping throughout their orders.
For quick-service restaurants, this technology could reduce pressure on employees during busy periods while encouraging larger purchases through relevant suggestions. Square's integrated loyalty features and franchise management tools may also help operators strengthen customer relationships and maintain consistent operations across multiple locations.
Image Credit: Square
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Conversational Self-service
- Natural-language ordering interfaces create space for faster, more accessible customer interactions that blend voice, touch, and personalization in high-traffic service environments.
- Agentic Menu Guidance
- AI systems that interpret menu data, substitutions, and preferences point to new forms of automated decision support that can improve discovery and order confidence.
- Contextual Upselling Automation
- Personalized item suggestions based on timing, popularity, and basket contents signal opportunities for revenue growth through intelligent, real-time recommendation engines.
Sectors Adopting This
- Quick-service Restaurants
- Voice-enabled kiosks can reshape front-of-house operations by reducing labor strain while supporting more consistent ordering experiences during peak demand.
- Restaurant Technology
- Integrated hardware, payments, loyalty, and AI assistance highlight demand for unified platforms that simplify digital transformation for foodservice operators.
- Franchise Management
- Centralized kiosk intelligence and customer engagement tools offer scalable ways for multi-location brands to standardize service while preserving localized menu flexibility.
