Starbucks is set to roll out a generative artificial intelligence assistant, “Green Dot Assist,” to 35 locations in the US and Canada as part of its strategy to simplify baristas’ jobs and speed up service in its cafes. The technology, developed with Microsoft Azure’s OpenAI platform, will be used by baristas to answer questions such as making an iced shaken espresso or troubleshooting equipment errors. The company’s CEO, Brian Niccol, has emphasized the importance of quick, accurate answers to barista questions to help revive its sluggish US sales. Starbucks is expanding its relationship with Microsoft after the tech giant’s CEO, Satya Nadella, stepped down from the board of directors. The company’s partnership with Microsoft includes a grounding engine to ensure the accuracy of the information provided. Other restaurant companies have also been exploring AI to simplify their workers’ jobs and improve operations, such as Yum Brands partnering with Nvidia for AI order-taking and restaurant performance assessments.