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Starbucks could eventually show you a personalized digital menu when you pull up to the drive-thru. During an earnings call on Thursday, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said the company is going to explore \u201cexperiences that recognize participating customers as they arrive, present personalized digital menus, and make payment more effortless,\u201d as spotted earlier by More Perfect Union<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It sounds similar to the technology that Taco Bell is experimenting with, which could change the layout, content, and visuals on a digital menu board \u201con a car-by-car basis.\u201d McDonald\u2019s also recently showed off an AI-powered feature it\u2019s piloting at a handful of drive-thrus, allowing its \u201cArchIQ\u201d chatbot to identify repeat customers and let them order their \u201cusual.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Starting in 2027, Starbucks will also begin testing background AI models at the drive-thru to help baristas \u201cinput orders more accurately and efficiently,\u201d according to Niccol. The company also plans to integrate AI into the Starbucks app\u2019s search and discovery features, and may allow \u201cconversational and agentic\u201d ordering in the future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Starbucks has already started allowing customers to place orders through ChatGPT, and also rolled out an AI-powered Green Dot Assist that employees can use to ask questions about things like recipes and service standards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n