Starbucks is introducing a new generative AI assistant called Green Dot Assist to help baristas in 35 coffeehouses across North America. This pilot program will start in the autumn of 2025, coinciding with the company’s fiscal year 2026.
The AI assistant was revealed during Starbucks’ Leadership Experience 2025 event in Las Vegas, which gathered over 14,000 coffeehouse leaders. Green Dot Assist is designed to provide real-time responses to baristas’ questions about ingredients, equipment troubleshooting, and more. It can also generate tickets for IT support and help shift supervisors find substitutes for absent baristas.
Starbucks aims to make employees’ jobs easier with this technology. The company believes that by simplifying access to important information, baristas can focus more on making drinks and engaging with customers. Deb Hall Lefevre, Starbucks’ Chief Technology Officer, emphasized that this innovation is about enhancing the work experience for employees.
Powered by Microsoft Azure’s OpenAI platform, Green Dot Assist represents a significant step in Starbucks’ efforts to streamline operations. The company is committed to improving efficiency and reducing challenges for its staff.
The launch of this AI assistant comes at a crucial time for Starbucks. The Leadership Experience event marked a key moment under the leadership of CEO Brian Niccol, who spoke about empowering coffeehouse leaders to enhance the customer experience. This initiative is part of Starbucks’ "Back to Starbucks" strategy, which aims to address recent declines in sales and earnings.
Despite a slight increase in overall revenues, Starbucks has been facing challenges, with comparable store sales down by one percent. The company’s CFO, Cathy Smith, acknowledged that while the financial results are not where they should be, they are focused on building a stronger business for the future.
As Starbucks rolls out Green Dot Assist, it hopes to create a better working environment for its baristas and ultimately improve the customer experience across its locations.