Uber Eats has unveiled an innovative AI feature known as the "Cart Assistant," aimed at streamlining the grocery shopping experience for users. This new tool, which is currently in its beta phase, is now accessible through the Uber Eats app.
To get started with the Cart Assistant, users simply need to search for their preferred grocery store within the app and click on the distinctive purple Cart Assistant icon located on the store's page.
With this feature, customers can input a shopping list or even upload an image of their list, such as a photo of a handwritten note or a screenshot of a recipe. The Cart Assistant will then automatically populate their shopping basket with the necessary items. Users have the flexibility to modify their selections, swapping out items for preferred brands or adding additional products from the store.
Uber Eats emphasizes that the Cart Assistant leverages data from previous orders to prioritize familiar items, such as regular purchases like milk or favorite snacks, enhancing the overall shopping experience.
"Our users expressed a desire for a more efficient shopping method, and we understand the value of their time," stated Praveen Neppalli Naga, Uber's CTO. "Cart Assistant enables a seamless transition from idea to checkout in mere seconds."
This new feature positions Uber Eats to better compete with other grocery and food delivery apps that are increasingly adopting AI chatbots. For instance, in 2023, Instacart introduced an AI search tool powered by OpenAI's ChatGPT, designed to assist customers with time-saving personalized shopping suggestions. Similarly, DoorDash has been exploring an AI chatbot named DashAI to enhance food ordering efficiency.
In the previous year, both Uber Eats and DoorDash integrated with ChatGPT to optimize food ordering processes. Uber Eats users in the U.S. can browse local restaurant menus using ChatGPT before completing their orders in the app, while DoorDash allows users to create meal plans and automatically add ingredients to their carts.
Furthermore, reports indicate that Uber Eats is actively investing in AI technology, developing tools that include AI-generated menu descriptions, improved food photography, and summaries of customer reviews.