Starbucks to Test AI‑Powered Personalized Digital Menus at Drive‑Thru

During its earnings call, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol announced the company will explore AI experiences that recognize customers as they arrive, display personalized digital menus, and streamline payment. The initiative is similar to Taco Bell’s car‑by‑car menu experiments and follows McDonald’s pilot of an AI chatbot that recalls repeat orders. Starting in 2027, Starbucks plans to test backend AI models to help baristas input orders more accurately and efficiently. The firm also aims to embed AI into its app’s search and discovery features and may enable conversational ordering in the future. Starbucks already lets customers order via ChatGPT and uses an AI‑powered Green Dot Assist for staff queries, but the rollout timeline for personalized drive‑thru menus remains early.