Starbucks Brews Up AI Assistant to Support Baristas, Not Replace Them

Starbucks brews up AI to support baristas, not replace them

Customers weren't sold on automation, so the search for ROI continues After lackluster results from customer-facing automation, Starbucks is now redirecting its tech ambitions toward helping its own employees. The coffee giant announced a new generative AI initiative called "Green Dot Assist" at its Leadership Experience event in Las Vegas yesterday. Described as a "coffeehouse companion" for baristas, the AI assistant is due to be trialed at 35 Starbucks locations. According to the company, Green Dot Assist will be available to baristas and managers via iPads in the store. Starbucks said that it hopes the AI will save employees time spent "flipping through manuals or searching for answers" that could be answered by a bot. As explained in a video, Green Dot Assist can be used to look up drink recipes, find steps to troubleshoot malfunctioning equipment, or create a help ticket if in-store repairs fail. Starbucks noted that managers also can use the tool to fill scheduling gaps. The AI could review the store schedule, identify available staff, and send a message asking them to cover a shift, potentially avoiding the usual round of awkward texts to employees with other plans. While Starbucks didn't answer our questions about Green Dot Assist, the biz told attendees at its Las Vegas event that the GenAI tool was built using OpenAI technology hosted on Microsoft Azure. A broader rollout is planned for fiscal 2026, which begins this fall, CNBC reported. A Starbucks spokesperson confirmed the report's accuracy. As noted above, Starbucks has had a rough time lately, with reduced sales leading to disappointing earnings in its second quarter of the year that fell short of market expectations when reported in late April. Starbucks had hoped that reducing human barista headcount with order-taking machines would save some money, but it turns out customers weren't crazy about the approach. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said earlier this month that the coffee giant's performance still "isn't yet where we want it to be," and that it is now in a rebuilding phase via its "Back to Starbucks" initiative, part of which includes making changes to improve the company. Part of that appears to involve Green Dot Assist. "This marks a significant step forward in our commitment to streamlining operations, reducing friction, and giving partners more time to focus on crafting beverages and connecting with customers," Starbucks EVP and chief technology officer Deb Hall Lefevre said in a statement announcing the behind-the-counter AI. Investors appear pleased with what they've heard. Starbucks stock popped on the news, rising nearly 5 percent since Green Dot Assist was announced yesterday. Whether employees will be happy to have their on-the-job training reinforced by an AI - and whether customers will be concerned that their barista can't make a drink without an AI's help - is another thing altogether. ®

Starbucks to roll out Microsoft Azure OpenAI assistant for baristas

Following announcements of layoffs, a Starbucks store is shown in Encinitas, California, U.S., February 24, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake Starbucks plans to roll out a generative AI assistant created with Microsoft Azure's OpenAI platform to 35 locations this month as part of its strategy to simplify baristas' jobs and speed up service in its cafes. The coffee chain showed off the new technology to more than 14,000 North American store managers at its Leadership Experience in Las Vegas on Tuesday. A broad launch of the "Green Dot Assist" platform across the U.S. and Canada is slated for the company's fiscal 2026, which starts in the fall. The three-day event comes as Starbucks pushes to revive its sluggish U.S. sales and "get back to Starbucks," as CEO Brian Niccol has described the effort since he took the role last year. Niccol's priorities include slashing service times to four minutes per order. Quick, accurate answers to barista questions could help achieve that goal. "It's just another example of how innovation technology is coming into service of our partners and making sure that we're doing all we can to simplify the operations, make their jobs just a little bit easier, maybe a little bit more fun, so that they can do what they do best," Starbucks Chief Technology Officer Deb Hall Lefevre told CNBC. Instead of flipping through manuals or accessing Starbucks' intranet, baristas will be able to use a tablet behind the counter equipped with Green Dot Assist to get answers to a range of questions, from how to make an iced shaken espresso to troubleshooting equipment errors. Baristas can either type or verbally ask their queries in conversational language. As the AI assistant evolves, Starbucks has even bigger plans for its next generation. Those ideas include automatically creating a ticket with IT for equipment issues or generating suggestions for a substitute when a barista calls out of work, according to Lefevre. Since OpenAI launched ChatGPT in late 2022, companies have been trying the implement generative artificial intelligence in their own operations, envisioning the AI hype can cut expenses and maybe even boost their stock prices. Walmart and JPMorgan Chase are among the corporate giants that have rolled out AI assistants for their workforce. But chatbots aren't always a perfect solution. They can sometimes provide inaccurate answers, known as "hallucinations," which could mean another headache instead of an easy resolution. Lefevre said that the company's partnership with Microsoft includes a grounding engine that ensures the accuracy of the information provided. Other restaurant companies have also been looking to AI to simplify their restaurant workers' jobs and improve operations. For example, Yum Brands has partnered with Nvidia to roll out AI order-taking, Nvidia-powered computer vision and restaurant performance assessments fueled by AI. But AI agreements haven't always been successful; McDonald's ended its partnership with IBM after its test of AI drive-thru order taking didn't meet expectations. Other new technology on display at the Leadership Experience includes the latest generation of Starbucks' Mastrena espresso machines and a more intuitive point-of-sale system. Lefevre said tenured baristas have been learning to use the new POS in as little as an hour. Plus, the technology can offer personalized recommendations and loyal customers' repeat orders, helping Starbucks achieve the personalized touch it's looking to bring back to its cafes.

Starbucks AI assistant, powered by Microsoft, aims to help baristas focus on coffee and customers

AI is coming to your Starbucks. The tech isn't going to make your coffee, but it might make the barista's job easier so they can focus on making your coffee better and faster. The Seattle-based coffee giant revealed a new generative AI-powered assistant called "Green Dot Assist" that is designed to help baristas find quicker solutions to tasks that can get in the way of customer service. CNBC reported that the feature is powered by Microsoft Azure's OpenAI platform. Using in-store iPads instead of flipping through manuals, Starbucks says its partners can get quick answers related to real-time shift planning, coaching, store performance, standards, troubleshooting and even a refresher on the ingredients for a seasonal beverage. The tech initiative was announced at Leadership Experience 2025 (LE25) in Las Vegas, where Starbucks is bringing together more than 14,000 of its coffeehouse leaders from across North America. The goal of the three-day gathering is to facilitate immersive workshops and connect workers, who can hear directly from company leaders, including new CEO Brian Niccol. Green Dot Assist will pilot in 35 stores, with broader rollout in the company's U.S. and Canadian locations in fiscal year 2026. Niccol, who was named Starbucks CEO last August, revealed plans in September to help the slumping coffee chain boost its brand and sales, in part by investing in technology "that enhance the partner and customer experience, improve our supply chain and evolve our app and mobile ordering platform." As GeekWire previously reported, it's worth watching how Niccol handles the company's digital ordering system. Starbucks helped pioneer mobile order-ahead capabilities more than a decade ago. Now about a third of total transactions from Starbucks' U.S. company-operated stores come from its app. But the app has become somewhat of a sore spot due to inaccurate wait times and the congestion it creates inside stores -- both for those trying to pick up their mobile orders, and people ordering at the store itself. "We're returning to what made us iconic: handcrafted coffee, human connection, and a relentless focus on excellence," Niccol said in Las Vegas. Starbucks also announced a next-gen point-of-sale system designed to reduce training time and drink remakes while enhancing workflow. The system features improved accessibility with removed language barriers as well as customer personalization.

Starbucks Teams Up With OpenAI To Launch 'Green Dot Assist', A Virtual Barista Tool That Helps Staff Customize Drinks, Troubleshoot Issues And Speed Up Service - Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX)

Starbucks Corp (SBUX) has launched a new AI tool to help baristas prepare drinks. What Happened: Green Dot Assist, the Seattle-based coffee chain announced, is an AI tool developed with Microsoft Azure's OpenAI, Business Insider reports. It will serve as a virtual assistant for baristas, available on the iPad behind the counter. Instead of digging through manuals, baristas can now ask their new companion and receive instant, conversational responses, said Starbucks said in a press release. In an explanatory video, Starbucks showcased the variety of ways in which the tool can help baristas with customizing recipes, recommending food pairings, troubleshooting equipment issues and so on. Currently undergoing tests, Green Dot Assist is available in 35 coffeehouses in the U.S., with more on the way. See Also: Jensen Huang's Quantum Support Boosts IonQ's Growth Plans: Nvidia Partnership, Oxford Ionics Deal Lead Needham To Reiterate 'Buy' Why It Matters: Starbucks is currently enduring a troubling period, and CEO Brian Niccol has expressed his determination to transform the coffee chain through his "Back to Starbucks" strategy. Despite the slowdown, rising recession risks and global trade uncertainty, Niccol believes that Starbucks is a "simple, everyday luxury" that consumers will continue to enjoy regardless of the economic challenges surrounding them. Starbucks Corp reported worse-than-expected results for the second-quarter FY25. The company underperformed for five consecutive quarters and its recent Q2 result was below expectations for both revenue and profit. To improve profitability, Brian Niccol is eliminating one of the company's most generous loyalty programs, including benefits like the 25-star bonus for personal reusable cups. Analysts remain skeptical about Starbucks' resilience amid mounting competition in China from rivals like Luckin Coffee, ongoing tariff uncertainty and whether or not company will balance its premium image. Image via Shutterstock Read Next: Jim Cramer Is All Aboard Union Pacific, But Shows No Love For Orphan Drugs SBUXStarbucks Corp$95.00-0.41%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it? Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Reveal Full ScoreEdge RankingsMomentum57.33Growth36.62QualityNot AvailableValue22.43Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Starbucks reveals big change for baristas, customers

Mentioning technology in the fast food industry may conjure images of faceless kiosks passing your McDonald's order back to a machine that flips burgers. The promise of this future has its obvious advantages. It's nearly impossible for a computer to make a mistake in your order or forget a certain modification or food allergy. Related: Starbucks employees walk out of stores over controversial policy Secondly, your fast food orders will be uniform. You won't get a Chipotle burrito bowl with too little protein or too much sour cream because a robot will have premeasured all of those ingredients. Hate waiting 10 minutes in line during the lunch rush to order your food and then another 10 minutes to receive your food? Well, automated order taking and food making will cut down on customer wait times immensely. The robots don't take breaks and don't get tired. In 2023, McDonald's debuted its first restaurant primarily staffed by robotics in Fort Worth, Texas. The machines handled almost everything, from taking orders to "manning" the fries. While that dining utopia is still years away, restaurants are moving towards that future now, but the advances are incremental. Starbucks just unveiled its latest technological breakthrough with artificial intelligence, but don't worry, your favorite barista isn't going anywhere, for now. Image source: Getty Images Starbucks brings in Microsoft Azure, OpenAI assistant for baristas This week (June 10), Starbucks (SBUX) showed off a generative artificial intelligence assistant created with Microsoft Azure's OpenAI platform. Starbucks will be rolling out its "Green Dot Assist" program at 35 of its more than 17,000 North American locations in June with a goal of rolling out the platform across the U.S. and Canada by the fall. Starbucks unveiled the plan to more than 14,000 store managers at its Leadership Experience conference in Las Vegas on June 10. Related: Starbucks CEO sounds the alarm on the wrong problem "It's just another example of how innovation technology is coming into service of our partners and making sure that we're doing all we can to simplify the operations, make their jobs just a little bit easier, maybe a little bit more fun, so that they can do what they do best," Starbucks Chief Technology Officer Deb Hall Lefevre told CNBC. Starbucks baristas will have a tablet behind the counter equipped with Green Dot Assistant to get answers to any questions they may have, including how to make a particular drink or how to troubleshoot equipment errors. Through the new program, the workers will have access to an employee handbook, a maintenance worker, and a trained veteran barista at their beck and call. Starbucks plans to expand the program in the future so that it can automatically generate an IT ticket for equipment issues and generate staffing suggestions when needed. Starbucks looks to recover from dismal quarter While Starbucks is looking to bolster its future through technology, its recent past should cause some concern. In the second quarter, Starbucks saw comparable store sales fall by 1% year over year while transactions dropped 4% in the quarter. Starbucks' operating income in the quarter plummeted 35%. Amid the downturn, CEO Brian Niccol urged Starbucks to focus on being a community coffeehouse. "My optimism has turned into confidence that our Back to Starbucks plan is the right strategy to turn the business around and to unlock opportunities ahead," said Niccol during an earnings call in April. The plan is focused on improving the customer experience through recent changes such as delivering orders to customers in "four minutes or less," updating store designs, and serving coffee in ceramic mugs for customers who want to sit inside stores. Green Dot Assist could help the company achieve that goal. Related: Starbucks makes major change in rewards program loyal fans will hate

Starbucks to roll out AI assistant in stores to speed up service - CNBC By Investing.com

Investing.com -- Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) plans to introduce a generative AI assistant in 35 locations this month as part of its strategy to make baristas' jobs easier and improve service speed in its cafes, according to a report from CNBC. The coffee chain showcased the new technology, created with Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Azure's OpenAI platform, to over 14,000 North American store managers at its Leadership Experience in Las Vegas on Tuesday. The company intends to launch the "Green Dot (NYSE:GDOT) Assist" platform broadly across the U.S. and Canada in fiscal 2026, which begins this fall. This three-day event comes as Starbucks works to improve its slow U.S. sales and "get back to Starbucks," as CEO Brian Niccol has described the effort since taking the position last year. Niccol aims to reduce service times to four minutes per order, and the AI assistant could help achieve this goal by providing quick, accurate answers to barista questions. The AI initiative is part of Starbucks' broader turnaround plans to simplify operations and enhance customer service efficiency in its cafes.