Technology

Square launches AI-powered kiosk for QSR's

Photo: Square

October 16, 2026

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Square has unveiled Square Kiosk, an intelligent self-service ordering system designed to help quick-service restaurants manage peak-hour traffic, ease staffing pressures and increase average order values.

Announced via press release Oct. 14, the kiosk combines agentic AI, conversational voice capabilities and a 21.5-inch touchscreen to create a more personalized ordering experience, allowing customers to ask menu questions, request modifications, explore recommendations and make substitutions using natural conversation or touch controls.

The system uses AI to understand each restaurant's menu and suggest relevant items and add-ons based on factors such as popular selections, time of day and items already in a customer's cart. It also can respond to questions about menu options, including allergy information and vegetarian choices, while supporting integrated payments, barcode scanning and loyalty program access.

Square says the technology is designed to help restaurants move lines faster, create upselling opportunities and free employees to focus on hospitality and other operational responsibilities. The launch also includes new capabilities to help larger QSR franchises manage operations across multiple locations.

The new device also reflects Square's growing investment in quick-service restaurants and food & beverage sellers more broadly: earlier this year, the company introduced new drive-thru capabilities for QSR operators while also streamlining discovery and order growth for sellers through new integrations with Google Maps, ChatGPT and Calude. Building on this commitment, Square is also rolling out its multi-account solution for QSR franchises, providing franchise operators with a new suite of tools that lets them easily manage menus, reporting, and gift cards while ensuring franchisees retain the level of autonomy and flexibility they need to manage their locations.

"Every device we build starts with the problems sellers are forced to navigate in their day-to-day, and then determining how hardware and software designed together can help operators overcome those challenges," Thomas Templeton, Block's Global Hardware Lead, said in the release. "Square Kiosk adds a third piece to the solution: intelligence. For QSR operators, who often have to do more with less, conversational AI does what existing self-ordering solutions can't. Whether answering menu questions or making informed recommendations, Square Kiosk raises the bar on what guests can expect from self-service while giving staff the time back to focus on hospitality and the tasks that matter the most."