Starbucks is reportedly linking a portion of bonuses for its technology employees to artificial intelligence adoption as the company accelerates efforts to integrate AI tools across its operations and digital platforms, as per a Bloomberg report.
According to reports, around 25 percent of bonuses for tech workers will now depend on department-wide goals tied to AI implementation and usage. The company is said to be tracking how many initiatives under its broader “Back to Starbucks” strategy are being powered by AI technologies.
The move shows a growing trend among global companies that are increasingly pushing employees to incorporate AI tools into daily workflows as businesses seek higher efficiency, faster execution and improved customer experiences.
Reports suggest Starbucks is already using AI across headquarters functions and store operations while trying to improve service speed, streamline workflows and strengthen sales growth after a prolonged slowdown in consumer spending.
The company is also reportedly measuring compliance with AI adoption targets among software developers. Employees are expected to use AI assistants regularly as part of their work processes, according to people familiar with the matter.
Apart from AI-related goals, the bonus structure for technology employees is also said to include metrics linked to other operational priorities, including the performance of Starbucks’ mobile order-and-pay systems. Half of the bonus reportedly remains tied to overall company performance, while another portion depends on individual employee performance.
The development comes as companies across sectors continue experimenting with AI-driven productivity tools while simultaneously trying to justify large investments being made into artificial intelligence infrastructure and software systems.
Starbucks has been expanding its use of AI at a time when businesses globally are increasingly integrating automation, analytics and AI-powered assistants into customer support, software development, operations and internal decision-making processes.
The company had previously experimented with AI-based inventory management systems in stores, though reports indicate some of those initiatives were later rolled back as Starbucks reassessed operational priorities and product availability goals.