By Laura Hyde |
US coffeehouse chain Starbucks is to roll out generative AI tool to simplify baristas’ jobs and speed up service at 35 locations across the US and Canada.
Brian Niccol, CEO of Starbucks, hopes the new technology, called Green Dot Assist, will slash service times to four minutes per order. Baristas will be able to use Green Dot Assist on a tablet located behind the service counter to get answers to a range of questions, such as how to make an iced shaken espresso and troubleshooting equipment errors. Baristas will be able to type or verbally ask their queries in conversational language; currently, they have to flip through manuals or access Starbucks’ intranet.
Starbucks hopes, as the AI assistant evolves, baristas will be able to automatically create tickets with the IT department for equipment issues, or even generate suggestions for a substitute when a barista calls in sick.
The assistant, which uses Microsoft Azure’s OpenAI platform, was showcased at the Starbucks Leadership Experience in Las Vegas on 10 June 2025. Other new technology on display at the event includes new Starbucks’ Mastrena espresso machines and a “more intuitive” point-of-sale system.
“[I’m] excited to see Starbucks announce a new generative AI assistant for baristas — the latest milestone in a longstanding partnership between our companies,” said Shelley Bransten, corporate vice president of global industry solutions at Microsoft. “Powered by AI capabilities in Azure AI Foundry, including Azure OpenAI, Green Dot Assist is another great example of how brands are reimagining the employee experience with AI.”
Starbucks plans to launch Green Dot Assist in fiscal 2026, which starts in September 2025.