Starbucks wants to use AI to show you a ‘personalized digital menu’ at the drive-thru

Starbucks is exploring the potential use of artificial intelligence to provide customers with a customized digital menu during their drive-thru experience. At a recent earnings call, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol revealed that the company intends to "recognize participating customers as they arrive" in order to display a personalized digital menu.

This technology is similar to what Taco Bell is currently experimenting with, as it could change the layout, content, and visuals of a digital menu board on a car-by-car basis. McDonald's has also been testing an AI-powered feature at select drive-thrus, where their "ArchIQ" chatbot can identify repeat customers and enable them to order their usual.

In 2027, Starbucks plans to begin testing AI models behind the scenes to help baristas input orders more accurately and efficiently. Additionally, the coffee giant aims to integrate AI into the Starbucks app's search and discovery features, potentially allowing for conversational and automated ordering in the future. Currently, Starbucks has started allowing customers to place orders through ChatGPT and has also launched an AI-powered Green Dot Assist for employees to inquire about recipes and service standards.

While it remains unclear when personalized digital menu boards will be made available at Starbucks locations, Niccol stated that the company is still in the "early stages" and intends to "test, learn, and scale what works."