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Applied AI·July 9, 2026·1 min read

Starbucks Taps AI to Reduce Reliance on Microsoft, IBM Software

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Starbucks building in-house AI tools to replace third-party software is a clear signal: large enterprises see AI as a lever to insource generic SaaS. If you sell horizontal software into big brands, assume your feature surface is a target for internal AI teams and double down on domain depth and integration moats.

Applied AI

‘The gap between AI ambition and infrastructure reality is widening’ Google Cloud report finds 83% of organizations must overhaul their infrastructure in order to maximize the agentic AI opportunity

If 83% of orgs need infra overhauls for agentic AI, the constraint isn’t ideas — it’s plumbing. CIOs should freeze net-new ‘agent’ pilots until there’s a clear plan for data access, orchestration, and observability that can handle continuous, autonomous workflows.