Starbucks’ CEO tells Fox Business that the coffee chain is “ahead of schedule” with its major turnaround efforts.
Starbucks has been experimenting with artificial intelligence in its bid to transform its business and gain an edge in the competitive industry. But even as the coffee giant makes strides in automation, CEO Brian Niccol continues to insist that automation is designed to be a support tool rather than a replacement for employees.
Niccol said the company recently invested more than $600 million to bring more employees, whom the company calls “partners,” back into stores. The goal, he said, is “to create that human connection.”
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“I think one of the things that people absolutely value is the humanity of Starbucks. And that’s never going to go away. We have to have craftsmanship,” he said. ‘We need to be connected. And we need to have a community coffee house.”
A Starbucks coffee shop employee makes a drink at the Detroit Metro Airport in Michigan. (Jim West/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Still, Starbucks is leaning heavily on the technology, recognizing that it can significantly ease the burden on employees and increase productivity. It is now considered critical to compete effectively in today’s environment as companies in the retail, foodservice and operations sectors have aggressively adopted AI to eliminate repetitive tasks, reduce human error and lower operational costs.
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In June, the company announced Green Dot Assist, a virtual assistant built to help baristas manage workflows through an iPad system. For example, if a barista needs to be quickly reminded of the ingredients for a seasonal drink, Green Dot Assist provides guidance.
A Starbucks coffee shop in New York, on July 28, 2025. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg)
The company also introduced a new tool that uses an iPad to automatically scan inventory in the backroom, eliminating the need for employees to manually count items.
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“I think there’s going to be a lot more breakthroughs in how we can use AI in our business. And it’s something that we’re going to experiment with, we’re going to learn, and I think it’s going to continue to be a part of the business,” Niccol said.
People pass by a Starbucks coffee shop in Manhattan, New York on January 15, 2025. (Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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While he doesn’t know exactly how it will ultimately roll out, Niccol said it “definitely feels like there’s a big breakthrough that we’ll continue to work toward.”
