Uber Eats launches AI assistant to help with grocery cart creation

Uber Eats has introduced a groundbreaking AI feature known as the 'Cart Assistant,' aimed at simplifying the grocery shopping experience for users. The beta version of this tool was launched on Wednesday and is now accessible within the app. To utilize this new chatbot, customers can search for their preferred grocery store on the Uber Eats app and click the distinctive purple Cart Assistant icon located on the store's page. Shoppers can either type out a shopping list or upload an image of it, including photos of handwritten notes or screenshots of recipes. The Cart Assistant will then intelligently add all required items to the user's basket. Additionally, users have the option to modify their selections by swapping in their favorite brands or including more products as needed. Uber Eats emphasizes that the Cart Assistant leverages data from past orders to prioritize items that users frequently purchase, such as their go-to milk or preferred oatmeal, enhancing the personalization of the shopping experience. "Customers expressed a desire for a more efficient shopping method, and we recognize the value of their time," stated Praveen Neppalli Naga, Uber's CTO. "The Cart Assistant enables you to transition from idea to checkout in mere seconds." This innovative feature positions Uber Eats to better compete against other grocery and food delivery applications that are already adopting AI chatbots. For instance, Instacart rolled out an AI search tool powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2023, helping users save time and receive tailored shopping suggestions. Similarly, DoorDash has been testing its own AI chatbot, named DashAI. In the previous year, both Uber Eats and DoorDash integrated ChatGPT to enhance their food ordering processes. Uber Eats users in the U.S. can explore local restaurants and menus through ChatGPT before finalizing their orders within the app. On the other hand, DoorDash allows users to request meal plans and automatically populate their cart with the necessary ingredients. Moreover, Bloomberg reported earlier this year that Uber Eats is also developing a chatbot that would engage users about their budget and food preferences to facilitate order placement. Overall, Uber Eats is making significant strides in AI, investing in tools for merchants that include AI-generated menu descriptions, improved food imagery, and summaries of customer reviews.