Starbucks abandons its AI inventory tool after only nine months
Starbucks has decided to discontinue its AI inventory tool after just nine months of use. The Automated Counting software, which was intended to streamline inventory tracking, faced significant issues with accuracy and reliability. Employees will revert to manual inventory management as the company acknowledges the tool's shortcomings.
- ▪Starbucks launched the AI inventory tool in September 2025.
- ▪The tool frequently mislabeled and miscounted items, leading to its discontinuation.
- ▪Employees expressed relief at the decision to scrap the AI program.
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News AI Starbucks abandons its AI inventory tool after only nine months Looks like manual inventory management is back on the menu, boys. By Will Shanklin May 21, 2026 5:06 pm EST Starbucks / YouTube Sometimes, AI helps you fine-tune weather forecasts or improve the lives of people with disabilities. Other times, well, it loses a fight with a bottle of peppermint syrup. That's the situation Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol finds himself in after the coffee chain reportedly told staff that it's scrapping an AI inventory program after only nine months. Starbucks rolled out the "Automated Counting" software to its North American stores in September 2025. Developed in partnership with NomadGo, the AI-powered tool was supposed to speed up inventory tracking.
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