Starbucks to use AI to cut wait time and make service faster
Starbucks
is introducing a new AI assistant called
Green Dot Assist
at 35 stores this month to help baristas work faster and more efficiently. According to a CNBC report, the assistant is built using Microsoft Azure's OpenAI platform and is part of the company's plan to improve service and reduce wait times at its cafés.
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The AI tool was unveiled during Starbucks' Leadership Experience event in Las Vegas, where over 14,000 North American store managers gathered. A full rollout across U.S. and Canadian stores is expected in fiscal year 2026, starting this fall.
'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 the publication.
Helping Baristas work smarter
Green Dot Assist will be available on a tablet behind the counter, allowing baristas to type or speak their questions in plain language. Instead of looking through manuals or online guides, staff can now quickly find answers about drink recipes, fixing equipment, and more.
Future plans for the AI include automatically reporting tech issues and suggesting schedule changes when an employee is absent.
These upgrades aim to support Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol's goal of reducing service times to under four minutes per order.
Starbucks' partnership with Microsoft comes at a time when many companies, like Walmart and JPMorgan, are adopting generative AI to improve operations and reduce costs. However, AI tools can sometimes provide wrong answers — a problem known as 'hallucinations.' Lefevre said Starbucks' system is designed with safeguards to ensure the information it gives is accurate.
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Other upgrades shown at the event included a new point-of-sale system and improved espresso machines. According to Lefevre, even experienced baristas are learning to use the new system in under an hour. It can also suggest repeat orders for loyal customers, helping Starbucks bring back a more personal experience in its stores.
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