Square launches a self-service kiosk with a voice AI for ordering

In short: Square has introduced a new self-service ordering kiosk with a large touchscreen and a voice AI that can answer questions and help customize an order.

What happened

Square is launching new hardware called the Square Kiosk. It is a large, pill-shaped device built for restaurants and other businesses that take orders.

The kiosk has a 21.5-inch touchscreen. Square says it can also detect when someone is nearby and then greet them, similar to how some automatic doors sense you as you approach.

A key feature is built-in voice AI. Square describes it as a conversational helper that understands a business’s menu and can listen and respond in real time. In simple terms, it is meant to work like talking to a staff member at the counter, but through the kiosk instead.

Square says customers can ask questions and request changes like modifications or substitutions while they order. When it is time to pay, customers can use a contactless reader (tap to pay) or insert a card.

Square says the kiosk is available starting today for $1,999. It is for businesses with a Square Plus or Premium subscription, and it also includes a $99 per device monthly software fee.

Why it matters

More places are pushing customers toward self-service screens, but those screens can be frustrating when you have a question or need a change. A voice AI could make kiosks feel more like a quick conversation, which may speed up ordering and reduce mistakes. For customers, it could mean fewer trips back to the counter to fix an order, but it also means more ordering happens through a machine instead of a person.

Source: The Verge AI