Uber Eats is infusing artificial intelligence into the everyday chore of grocery shopping. The company announced this week that its food delivery platform is rolling out a new AI-powered assistant designed to help customers build their shopping carts using simple text prompts or even images of handwritten lists.
This innovative feature is being integrated with a significant number of major retailers, including prominent names like Safeway, Albertsons, and Kroger. According to Uber, the AI assistant is capable of factoring in user preferences for specific items and considering their availability within the chosen store. Users will also have the flexibility to review and modify their selections before finalizing their order.
“Cart Assistant embodies our approach to AI at Uber: identifying genuine customer needs and developing practical, in-app solutions,” stated Praveen Neppalli Naga, Uber’s head of technology, in a recent press release. “By grounding these functionalities in real-world user behavior, we can create tools that feel both helpful and intuitive.”
This move underscores a broader trend within the food delivery and ride-hailing sectors, where companies like Uber and its competitors are increasingly leveraging AI to enhance user experiences and streamline operations for both consumers and businesses. Earlier this year, Uber introduced a suite of AI-driven tools for restaurants, offering features such as AI-generated menu descriptions and summarized customer reviews.
The expansion into grocery delivery by Uber Eats and DoorDash represents a direct challenge to established players like Instacart. Both Uber Eats and DoorDash began offering grocery delivery services in 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent months, Uber Eats has been actively expanding its retail partnerships, welcoming grocers such as Aldi and FreshDirect. This strategic push has contributed to significant growth, with Uber reporting a 26% year-over-year increase in gross bookings for its delivery business, reaching $25.4 billion in the fourth quarter.
Uber’s AI assistant is also a notable development in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI adoption within the retail industry, which has become a critical testing ground for these new technologies. Last year, Instacart launched its own AI-powered tools for grocers. Major e-commerce and retail giants like Amazon and Walmart have also been actively deploying AI agents to enhance their operations and customer interactions. This competitive AI race signals a significant shift in how consumers will interact with online retail and delivery services in the near future.
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