Starbucks is brewing something new.
At the company’s 2026 Investor Day on Thursday, Starbucks executives announced a high-tech turnaround plan: The company says it is “actively developing a first-of-its-kind Starbucks ordering companion” for its mobile app. The goal is to help customers discover drinks through prompts rather than rigid menus.
“Designed to help customers discover their perfect beverage through natural, intuitive prompts,” the tool will also help customers find nearby stores, complete orders, and move smoothly from inspiration to pickup, according to Starbucks.
The idea is to make digital ordering feel more personal, whether someone orders at the counter, through the app, or on the go.
AI, but built around people
At its core, Starbucks says its growing use of AI is not about replacing baristas or automating away the coffeehouse experience. Instead, the company frames AI as a behind-the-scenes helper, designed to support both workers and customers in the moments that matter most.
“At Starbucks, the moments that matter most come from people. We design AI to strengthen, not replace, the human connection at the heart of every coffeehouse,” Bhagyesh Phanse, Starbucks’ SVP and Chief Data & Analytics Officer, wrote in a company post.
Starbucks says it takes a practical approach: if AI helps partners do their jobs better and improves the customer experience, it scales it. If not, it moves on.
AI Inside the Coffeehouse
One of the clearest examples already in use is Green Dot Assist, an AI-powered tool available on in-store iPads. It acts as a real-time assistant for baristas, helping them quickly find answers to common questions — from drink recipes to service standards and equipment issues.
According to Starbucks, this reduces interruptions during busy periods and helps partners stay confident and in rhythm behind the bar. “When partners have clarity and support in the moment, the entire experience flows,” Phanse said.
The company also plans to extend AI into its equipment and systems, using it to flag early issues, recommend next steps, and reduce downtime, all to keep partners focused on crafting drinks and connecting with customers.
Cutting through the queue
To keep the “rhythm” of the store, Starbucks is also deploying Smart Queue technology. This AI system sequences orders from the café, drive-thru, and mobile app into one organized flow.
The company is even piloting a “hands-free” drive-thru experience. This uses natural language processing to listen to the conversation between the barista and the customer, automatically entering the order into the system. Starbucks believes this leads to faster handoffs for customers and a calmer work environment for partners.
Looking ahead, the company is exploring AI-enabled forecasting to ensure popular items are available when needed, as well as data-driven scheduling that better matches staffing levels with local demand.
Starbucks has not provided a timeline for when the AI ordering companion will roll out, saying only that it is still in development.
As Starbucks uses AI to improve ordering and support baristas, other AI tools are stirring controversy, like xAI’s Grok facing backlash over an AI-generated celebrity-like video and broader ethical concerns.