Uber Eats launches AI assistant to help with grocery cart creation

Uber Eats introduced a new artificial intelligence feature on Wednesday called "Cart Assistant," designed to make grocery shopping in the app faster and more convenient. The beta version of the tool is now live for users.

To access the feature, customers search for a grocery store inside the Uber Eats app and tap the purple Cart Assistant icon displayed on the store's page. From there, they can begin building their cart using the chatbot-powered interface.

Shopperscan enter a grocery list or upload an image of one. Cart Assistant can process photos of handwritten lists and screenshots of recipes that include ingredient lists. The system automatically identifies the required products and adds them to the user's basket. Afterwards, customers can adjust their selections by swapping items for preferred brands or adding additional products from the store.

Uber Eats says Cart Assistant also draws on previous orders to prioritise items customers frequently purchase, such as a regular brand of milk or a favourite type of oatmeal. This approach is intended to create a more tailored shopping experience.

"Users were telling us they wanted a quicker way to shop, and we know how precious your time is," Uber CTO Praveen Neppalli Naga said in a statement. "Cart Assistant helps you get from idea to checkout in seconds."

The new tool positions Uber Eats to compete more aggressively with other grocery and food delivery platforms that have been incorporating AI-driven assistants. Instacart, for example, introduced an AI-powered search tool in 2023, built on ChatGPT technology to provide personalised recommendations and accelerate shopping. DoorDash was also reported to be testing its own chatbot, DashAI, during that period.

In 2024, both Uber Eats and DoorDash expanded their collaboration with ChatGPT to simplify ordering. Uber Eats enabled U.S. users to browse local restaurants and menus directly within ChatGPT before completing purchases in the Uber Eats app. DoorDash's integration allowed customers to generate meal plans and automatically populate their carts with the necessary ingredients.

Bloomberg reported in 2023 that Uber Eats was developing an AI chatbot that asks about their budget and food preferences before assisting them with placing orders.

More broadly, Uber Eats has been accelerating its investment in artificial intelligence. The company has rolled out AI-powered tools for merchants, including automatically generated menu descriptions, enhanced food imagery, and summaries of customer reviews, as it continues to expand AI's role across its platform.