Starbucks Unveils AI Assistant Green Dot to Enhance Barista Efficiency

Starbucks has launched an AI assistant called Green Dot Assist, designed to streamline barista tasks and improve service speed. Developed on the Microsoft Azure OpenAI platform, this assistant will begin operations at 35 locations this month.

The coffee chain showcased the innovative technology to over 14,000 store managers in North America during the Leadership Experience event. A broader rollout of the Green Dot Assist platform across the United States and Canada is planned for the 2026 fiscal year, set to begin this fall.

Starbucks aims to rejuvenate its sales in the U.S. and «return to its roots,» with new leadership prioritizing reducing service times to four minutes per order. Executives believe that the AI’s quick and accurate responses to barista inquiries can help achieve this goal.

«This is just one more example of how innovative technologies are assisting our partners, and we are committed to making operations simpler and perhaps even a bit more enjoyable, allowing them to focus on what they do best,» stated Starbucks’ Chief Technology Officer Deb Hall Lefevre.

Rather than flipping through manuals or logging into the Starbucks intranet, baristas will be able to use a tablet equipped with Green Dot Assist at the counter to learn how to make iced espresso or troubleshoot equipment issues. They can type out questions or ask them verbally. According to Lefevre, experienced baristas managed to learn the new terminal in just an hour. Furthermore, the technology will provide personalized suggestions and display repeat orders from regular customers.

Starbucks plans to implement enhanced assistants capable of automatically creating IT support tickets or suggesting employee replacements when a barista requests time off.

The company is deepening its partnership with Microsoft roughly a year after tech giant CEO Satya Nadella stepped down from Starbucks’ board. Meanwhile, several corporations, including Walmart and JPMorgan Chase, are collaborating with OpenAI.

Lefevre mentioned that the partnership with Microsoft includes a mechanism ensuring the accuracy of the information provided to employees.

In a contrasting move, McDonald’s has ended its partnership with IBM after the pilot of an AI-based ordering system did not meet expectations. Previously, the chain had approached Google to develop a chatbot to help restaurant staff receive quick answers to work-related queries. The solution, named Ask Pickles, is intended to provide employees with recommendations to potentially enhance productivity in the fast-paced fast-food environment.

In May 2024, Google entered into a partnership with Wendy’s, a competitor of McDonald’s, which began testing AI in its delivery service and later expanded the trial. Other fast-food companies, such as Checkers and Rally’s, Hardee’s, Carl’s Jr., Krystal, Dunkin’, and Taco John’s, are also testing or have already implemented AI technologies in their operations.