Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said during a call with analysts that the coffee chain is preparing to test AI models that operate in the background to help baristas “input orders more accurately and efficiently as they interact with customers.” The goal is to allow workers to focus on talking to customers while improving service speed, according to reports.
Starbucks is also exploring technology that could recognize participating customers as they arrive, display personalized digital menus and make payments easier.
“We’re early in this work and we’ll test, learn and scale what works,” Niccol said.
Read: Starbucks layoffs: 224 workers to lose jobs as company restructures (August 21, 2026)
Many large chains have tested AI-powered drive-thru systems, but mass adoption has yet to occur. Burger King has no plans for a broader rollout of the AI ordering system it is piloting and has said customers prefer talking to humans. McDonald’s is testing its own version, which it says could free up dozens of labor hours per restaurant each week for other tasks.
Starbucks has previously tried implementing AI for inventory management. The tool, which used computer vision to track parts of the chain’s inventory, was announced last September as a way to simplify inventory record-keeping and prevent stockouts. It was retired nine months after its launch.
Starbucks has forecast annual profit above expectations. Niccol told investors that his “Back to Starbucks” strategy is no longer a turnaround effort but a plan for growth. The company said it aims to allocate about $1 billion toward share repurchases.
Niccol has spent the past two years simplifying menus, improving staffing levels and reducing wait times as part of his “Back to Starbucks” turnaround. The coffee chain has been addressing costs through restructuring, including layoffs and store closures, to offset nearly $500 million in labor investments tied to the overhaul.
Read: Starbucks EVP Sanjay Shah joins Matternet board (August 3, 2026)
Starbucks forecast annual adjusted earnings per share of $3.15 to $3.25, compared with analysts’ expectation of $3.14, according to data compiled by LSEG. The company reported fourth-quarter global same-store sales growth of 7.2%, surpassing analysts’ expectations of a 5.4% increase. Adjusted earnings per share came in at 80 cents, above the 72-cent estimate.
In April 2026, Starbucks closed its deal with Boyu Capital to sell control of its Chinese operations, valuing the business at approximately $4 billion. In October, reports emerged that Starbucks had explored a potential acquisition of Chipotle Mexican Grill, but the company later said it was not buying the restaurant chain.