Howard Schultz said he's Worried — 'with a big W' — about AI

Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, has expressed significant concerns about the swift advancement of artificial intelligence, emphasizing his worries with a capital 'W.' In a recent interview with LinkedIn's editor-in-chief, Daniel Roth, Schultz highlighted the need for a serious discussion about AI and its implications. Drawing parallels to the rapid evolution of social media and the lagging regulatory responses, Schultz warned that AI is following a similar path. He reflected on the past decade's impact of social media, stating, "If we look back on the last 10, 15 years on social media, I think we'd be hard pressed to say that the velocity and the impact and the adverse effect of social media is equal to, or more than, the benefits that have occurred." He criticized the slow pace of regulation, noting that it often arrives too late to mitigate risks. Schultz is supportive of AI's potential but stresses his apprehensions as a concerned citizen. "I worry, with a big W, about the impact this could have, that could be adverse," he remarked. He urged major tech leaders, including Elon Musk and Bill Gates, to unite and recognize their moral obligation in navigating the development of AI responsibly. Having led Starbucks from 1987 to 2000 and returning in 2008 to rejuvenate the brand after a financial crisis, Schultz currently heads the Schultz Family Foundation. While Starbucks has focused on investing in its workforce rather than AI automation, the company did partner with OpenAI in June to create Green Dot Assist, an AI tool designed to assist baristas. This interview comes on the heels of Starbucks announcing the closure of over 100 locations and the layoff of 900 non-retail employees, a move that has raised eyebrows amidst its evolving strategies.