Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol told investors on the company's fourth-quarter 2026 earnings call that it will test AI models at drive-thru lanes during fiscal 2027, aiming to recognize repeat customers as they approach and surface personalized digital menus with suggested orders. Drive-up customers make up about half of Starbucks' business, and Niccol said AI would help input orders more accurately while baristas focus on talking with customers. Starbucks did not specify the recognition technology, testing locations, or any effect on prices.
cnet.com
· 2026-11-03
Starbucks is investing $1 billion to reverse changes it made to speed up order fulfillment, including mobile ordering and store redesigns focused on pickup efficiency. The company says it aims to rebuild the in-store experience that drew customers to its cafés in the first place.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-11-02
Starbucks' CEO said the company wants to recognize participating customers as they arrive at stores and show them personalized digital menus. No timeline, technology vendor, or rollout details were disclosed in the comments.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-11-01
Starbucks disclosed during its fiscal Q4 and full-year 2026 earnings report that it plans to open hundreds of new stores in the U.S. during 2027 and 2028. The announcement comes after the company closed a number of underperforming locations in recent months.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-30
During a Thursday earnings call, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said the company will explore drive-thru technology that recognizes returning customers, shows personalized digital menus, and streamlines payment. Starting in 2027, Starbucks also plans to test background AI tools that help baristas take orders more accurately, alongside AI upgrades to the app's search features and potential conversational ordering.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-30
McDonald's is preparing to roll out a holiday-themed menu in the coming days, well ahead of Halloween, featuring a lineup of seasonal beverages alongside meal deals. The drinks are positioned to compete with the festive beverage offerings Starbucks releases each year.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-28
WIRED's editor recounts being invited, under NDA, to screen Nathan Fielder's new project 'You Can See Everything' ahead of its surprise debut at the Telluride Film Festival. The piece also describes a surprise phone call Fielder received from Elizabeth Holmes, in which she told him she trusted him, as part of the lead-up to a planned WIRED cover story on the comedian.
wired.com
· 2026-10-19
A federal class action filed by Hagens Berman on behalf of three consumers in California, New York and Washington accuses Starbucks of falsely marketing certain protein lattes and matcha drinks as 'sugar-free' when they contain 13 to 21 grams of sugar per serving. Starbucks says the sugar comes naturally from its protein-boosted milk, that no sugar is added, and that it uses sugar-free syrup, with nutrition info posted online. The lawsuit seeks damages for affected buyers and a court order barring the 'sugar-free' label on products containing sugar.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-10-09
Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said the coffee chain's recovery is taking hold, attributing the progress to a leadership focus on returning to core operational fundamentals. He framed the strategy as less about product innovation and more about disciplined execution of basics.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-09
President Trump said on Truth Social that the US will not attack Iran before the November 3 midterm elections, citing "productive discussions" between the two countries—a reversal from comments made a day earlier. He said the US naval blockade on Iran's ports remains fully in effect and that Iran still cannot be allowed a nuclear weapon. Oil prices rose during Thursday's trading session despite the de-escalatory tone.
cnbc.com
· 2026-10-09
The Financial Times reported that Starbucks has worked with advisers for months on a potential takeover of Chipotle Mexican Grill, though it remains unclear whether a formal offer was ever submitted. On the news, Starbucks shares initially dropped as much as 6.7% before settling 0.4% lower, while Chipotle shares jumped 6.2%.
futurism.com
· 2026-10-09
According to reports, Starbucks has consulted advisers about a potential deal to acquire Chipotle. Such a move would reunite Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, a former Chipotle chief executive, with his old company.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-08
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