Starbucks tried using AI to count syrup bottles – it kept hallucinating the inventory
Starbucks attempted to use AI to count syrup bottles, but the tool failed to accurately track inventory, leading to its retirement. The company will now rely on human workers to count milk and other beverage components. The decision to abandon the AI-based tool comes after a nine-month pilot and years of testing, with the company opting for alternative solutions such as more frequent shipments and supply chain improvements.
- ▪Starbucks tested an AI-based tool called Automated Counting to ease inventory management pains, but it failed to show real gains in efficiency or operational standards.
- ▪The tool was designed to automate counts of syrup, milk, and other beverage products using tablets equipped with cameras and LiDAR sensors.
- ▪The company will now focus on standardizing how inventory is counted across coffeehouses, with a emphasis on consistency and execution at scale.
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Software AI starbucks fail Starbucks tried using AI to count syrup bottles – it kept hallucinating the inventory The tool was apparently tested for years, but failed anyway By Alfonso Maruccia May 26, 2026, 8:58 17 comments Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. AI NO: Brian Niccol became Starbucks CEO to pursue one major goal: improving the company's profits while driving sales growth. The executive has been trying to turn things around with significant technology upgrades, but AI-based solutions have so far failed to show real gains in terms of efficiency or operational standards.
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