Starbucks is looking into the feasibility of using robots or Artificial Intelligence to take orders at their drive-thru windows. Todd discussed the idea during a segment of The Todd Starnes Radio Show. Click here to listen.
TODD:
Starbucks is in the headlines, ladies and gentlemen. Looks like they finally got tired of their woke baristas. You know—the ones who are always going out on strike.
And I’m thinking: what are you people doing? You pour coffee for a living. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s a decent, honorable job. I’m just not sure you need to unionize—but hey, whatever.
So you’ve got all these baristas picketing, protesting, causing mayhem, and trying to infuse your morning coffee with far-left politics. It’s bad enough you’re paying five bucks for a cup of coffee that tastes burnt. But then you’ve got to listen to some liberal lecture about nonsense? Nobody wants that in the morning. Nobody.
Now Starbucks has come up with a new idea—and this comes from the BBC, the British Broadcasting Corporation.
According to reporter Natalie Sherman, Americans pulling into a Starbucks drive-thru may be greeted by what sounds like a friendly staff member, but at some locations it’s actually an AI robot taking the orders.
Behind the counter, baristas can rely on a virtual personal assistant to recall recipes or manage schedules. In the back of the shop, a scanning tool now handles inventory—one of the most tedious parts of the job.
It’s all very interesting.
Last week, Starbucks reported its first sales increase in two years at established stores. The United States is their biggest and most important market, accounting for about 70 percent of total revenue.
But here’s the catch: the company’s share price still slid five percent. Investors are worried that all the spending—including a reported $500 million to boost staffing—has cut into profits.
And I’ll tell you what really has me curious. Other coffee shops and restaurants are going to start doing this too. This AI thing is out of control. So the big question is: what jobs will we have left?
Now my job is pretty safe. We tried AI once, didn’t we, Dylan? Tried to write a Todd Starnes column in the voice of Todd Starnes.
The computer didn’t know what “jeez-a-loo” meant. Thought “slobberknocker” was inappropriate. And I got banned for a day because I used the word badonkadonk.
DYLAN:
You crossed the guideline.
TODD:
I crossed the line.
But seriously—I can tell immediately when a drive-thru is using AI. Clear as day. First thing it does is remove the human interaction. The AI asks, “Would you like to try our new $8.99 deal on chicken tenders?” You say no, and then suddenly you hear that crinkly old microphone and someone says, “Alright… what do you want?”
DYLAN:
They’ve started doing it at Zaxby’s too.
TODD:
Really?
DYLAN:
Yes. Everywhere. You’re right—it’s everywhere now.
TODD:
Here’s what I want to know:
Number one—do they get your order right at Starbucks?
Number two—do they spell your name correctly on the cup?
And number three—do they cop an attitude?
Because you know those Starbucks baristas aren’t exactly the friendliest people in the world. They’ve got this attitude. It’s a thing.
I’m like, okay—you work at a coffee house. Please. Give it a rest.
And you know, this reminds me—at some Mexican restaurants they’ve already got AI robots delivering meals.
DYLAN:
Yeah, they come up in those little box robots and bring the tray.
TODD:
That’s right. I tried that once—some Mexican place, I forget the name. I ordered a Chalupa or a Gordita. The little AI robot had a sombrero on its head. Rolled up like R2-D2.
I asked it for a refill—said, “Can I get some extra ice?”
And that thing just rolled straight out the door.
I’m yelling, “Wait—come back!”
Pretty sure it was running for the border.
