Starbucks is introducing a new generative AI assistant, developed in partnership with Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI platform, to streamline tasks for baristas and improve speed of service in its stores. The company unveiled the technology at its Leadership Experience event in Las Vegas and plans to begin rolling it out to 35 locations this month. A broader launch across U.S. and Canadian stores is scheduled for fiscal 2026.
The initiative is part of Starbucks’ wider turnaround strategy aimed at reviving sluggish U.S. sales and enhancing in-store efficiency. As CEO Brian Niccol, who took the helm last year, put it, the company is striving to “get back to Starbucks.” One of his goals is to cut service times to just four minutes per order.
“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,” said Starbucks Chief Technology Officer Deb Hall Lefevre in an interview with CNBC.
The new tool, named “Green Dot Assist,” will be accessible via tablets behind the counter. It will allow baristas to ask questions—either by typing or speaking naturally—on topics ranging from drink preparation (like how to make an iced shaken espresso) to resolving equipment issues, eliminating the need to flip through manuals or navigate the company’s internal systems.
Lefevre said future updates could include features like automatically opening IT tickets for equipment problems or recommending shift coverage options when a barista calls out sick.
This expansion marks a deepening of Starbucks’ collaboration with Microsoft, roughly a year after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stepped down from the Starbucks board.
Since OpenAI released ChatGPT in late 2022, major corporations—including Walmart and JPMorgan Chase—have been integrating generative AI tools into their workflows, hoping to improve efficiency and potentially boost performance. However, challenges remain. Chatbots can produce “hallucinations,” or incorrect answers. To address this, Lefevre noted Starbucks’ system will include a grounding engine designed to ensure the AI provides accurate information.
Other restaurant chains have also embraced AI to modernize operations. Yum Brands, for instance, has teamed up with Nvidia to implement AI-powered order-taking and performance analytics. On the other hand, not every AI initiative has succeeded—McDonald’s recently ended its partnership with IBM after its drive-thru AI testing failed to meet expectations.
Starbucks also showcased other innovations at the Leadership Experience, including new Mastrena espresso machines and a next-gen point-of-sale system. Lefevre noted experienced baristas have learned the new POS in about an hour. The system also supports personalized ordering by recognizing customer preferences and repeat orders, aligning with Starbucks’ goal of bringing a more tailored experience back to its stores.
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