Throughout his look at Dreamforce, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol mentioned the espresso empire’s rising use of synthetic intelligence and even touched on the concept of totally automated espresso outlets for the longer term.
In response to Fortune, Niccol emphasised that the present focus is on utilizing AI to assist Starbucks reclaim its place as “the world’s biggest customer support firm.”
In June 2025, Starbucks introduced their choice to make a digital assistant referred to as “Inexperienced Dot Help.” The corporate defined in a press launch that it’s “constructed to assist baristas in actual time.”
They stated within the press launch, “With this new answer, we’re simplifying entry to important data within the circulation of labor for companions, making their jobs a bit of simpler whereas they construct confidence and experience. For instance, if a barista wants a fast reminder of the components for a seasonal beverage, Inexperienced Dot Help supplies steerage in seconds—serving to companions really feel assured in delivering distinctive customer support.”
The espresso retail large additionally revealed that it’s testing the help system in 35 coffeehouses.
“This can be a new period of innovation at Starbucks—one the place AI enhances the associate expertise and strengthens the connection between baristas and clients. Once we put money into our companions, we’re investing in the way forward for the Starbucks expertise.”
Niccol defined at Dreamforce that the Starbucks app would be the main platform for future AI experimentation.
He even stated that in some unspecified time in the future, clients won’t even have to open the app to put an order. His clear imaginative and prescient for the AI system is so it will probably anticipate a buyer’s drink, permitting them to easily say into their cellphone, “Hey, I would like my Starbucks order. I’ll be there in 10 minutes” and have it prepared upon arrival.
Niccol emphasised that Starbucks is “not close to” any totally robotic employees mannequin.
The corporate proper now could be targeted on bringing “extra companions again into our shops” to supply a genuinely human, high-quality expertise rooted in “actual craft”.
