Starbucks is betting that its next barista might be artificial intelligence. The Seattle-based coffee chain announced this week that it has begun testing a beta app within ChatGPT designed to help customers choose drinks based on their mood, taste preferences, and personal goals, according to Fox News.
The tool goes beyond simple menu browsing. It can factor in the local weather and even suggest a beverage that complements a user's outfit. Customers can access the feature by searching for "Starbucks" in ChatGPT's app directory and sending a conversational prompt — something as casual as "I'd like a good coffee to start my day." From there, orders can be started and completed through the Starbucks app or website.
Paul Riedel, Starbucks' senior vice president of digital and loyalty, said the move reflects a fundamental shift in how people approach ordering. "Customers aren't always starting with a menu," he said. "They're starting with a feeling." The company wanted to meet customers "right at that moment of inspiration," he added.
Experts see the rollout as part of a broader trend of consumers outsourcing everyday decisions to AI. Jonathan Alpert, a New York City-based psychotherapist, noted that most customers think in terms of emotions rather than specific drink configurations. "They're thinking, 'I'm exhausted. I need a pick-me-up,'" he said. He called the approach fun and low-risk for most consumers but flagged a potential downside: the AI may "naturally lean into emotional gratification" and steer users toward higher-calorie options.
Strategic advisor Marva Bailer said Starbucks has an opportunity to extend its brand through visuals and creative product descriptions, comparing the experience to how ChatGPT has already been used to plan dinner parties down to the last detail. The test marks another step in the fast-food industry's broader embrace of AI to reshape how customers place orders.
