What does this mean for workers? Yum China's moves touch 3 jobs, which together employ about 4.9 million people in the U.S. Across them, AI and robots already touch between 1h 13m (first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers) and 7h 41m (industrial truck and tractor operators) of a typical 8-hour shift. A single company's move is an early signal for these jobs, and the time cards show how far the change has spread nationally.
Rolling out means it is in use and spreading to more locations or teams.
On the floor
- Yum China uses automated guided vehicles in its cold storage warehouses
Yum China's senior director of supply chain said the company has put automated guided vehicles with intelligent algorithms into its cold storage facilities. The vehicles bring goods to workers, cutting their time in freezing temperatures.
Caixin Global · Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- Yum China launches Q-Smart AI assistant for KFC restaurant managers
After a pilot at select KFC restaurants, Yum China launched Q-Smart, an AI assistant for managers. It covers labor scheduling, inventory management and food safety inspections.
Nation's Restaurant News · First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Jobs affected
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand4h 31m of 8h touched · 3 million workers · $40k · +1.8% by 2035Where AI or robots show up most: Move freight, stock, or other materials to and from storage or production areas, loading docks, delivery vehicles, ships, or containers, by hand or using trucks, tractors, or other equipment (4h 13m a shift, robots)
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators7h 41m of 8h touched · 774,000 workers · $46k · +1.5% by 2035Where AI or robots show up most: Move levers or controls that operate lifting devices, such as forklifts, lift beams with swivel-hooks, hoists, or elevating platforms, to load, unload, transport, or stack material (2h 28m a shift, robots)
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers1h 13m of 8h touched · 1.2 million workers · $44k · +5.4% by 2035Where AI or robots show up most: Resolve customer complaints regarding food service (23m a shift, AI on its own)