According to a recent LinkedIn post from Hi Auto, the company’s AI-powered drive-thru technology has been recognized through two awards involving Popeyes Louisiana Chicken UK. The post highlights that David Carey, Chief Technology Officer at Popeyes UK, was named CTO of the Year at the 2026 Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards, and that Popeyes UK also received the Best Use of AI award for its AI-powered drive-thru implementation with Hi Auto. The recognition came at the seventh annual awards ceremony held on January 21 at Pergola on the Wharf in London, with Popeyes UK selected from six finalists including Burger King UK and Mitchells and Butlers.
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The LinkedIn post suggests that Hi Auto’s AI solution is being used to streamline drive-thru operations by allowing restaurant staff to focus more on food quality and customer service, potentially improving both labor efficiency and guest experience. For investors, this external validation may indicate increasing traction for Hi Auto’s technology in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) segment, particularly within a high-volume brand such as Popeyes. The awards could enhance Hi Auto’s credibility in AI-driven operational optimization, supporting its positioning against larger competitors and potentially aiding future customer acquisition across the QSR and broader foodservice markets. If such deployments scale, the model implied by the post—improved throughput, reduced operational friction, and enhanced service consistency—could translate into recurring SaaS-style revenue opportunities and strengthen Hi Auto’s role in the digitization and automation of restaurant operations.