Editorial illustration for Uber Eats launches 'Cart Assistant' AI for grocery shopping via text or image
Instacart AI Transforms Grocery Shopping with Cart Assistant
Uber Eats launches 'Cart Assistant' AI for grocery shopping via text or image
Why does an AI‑driven grocery helper matter now? While food‑delivery apps have long focused on restaurant meals, the push into everyday shopping signals a shift toward broader convenience. Uber Eats, traditionally known for restaurant orders, is testing a tool that lets users type or snap a picture of what they need, then translates that input into a cart of grocery items.
The concept is simple: you tell the app, “I need bananas and almond milk,” or you upload a photo of a pantry shelf, and the system suggests products to add. But the promise comes with a caution—users still have to verify the selections before finalizing the purchase. In a market where speed and accuracy compete, an assistant that can interpret both text and images could reduce friction, yet it also introduces a new layer of potential error.
The move reflects a broader trend of embedding AI into everyday transactions, aiming to make the grocery run as seamless as ordering a pizza.
Uber announced a new AI feature called "Cart Assistant" for grocery shopping in its Uber Eats app. Uber Eats adds AI assistant to help with grocery shopping.
Uber announced a new AI feature called "Cart Assistant" for grocery shopping in its Uber Eats app. Uber Eats adds AI assistant to help with grocery shopping The new feature works with text or image prompts, but double-check your order before putting it through. The new feature works with text or image prompts, but double-check your order before putting it through.
The new feature works a couple different ways. You can use text prompts, as you would with any other AI chatbot, to ask it to build a grocery list for you.
Will Cart Assistant live up to expectations? The feature lets users type or snap a picture to generate a grocery list within the Uber Eats app, a convenience that sounds straightforward but still requires a careful review of the suggested items before confirming the purchase. Because the AI draws from prompts, errors are possible; a misplaced item or a misinterpreted image could slip through, so Uber advises double‑checking every order.
Yet the integration of text‑based and visual inputs marks a modest expansion of the platform’s capabilities beyond restaurant meals, nudging the service toward a broader retail role. Still, the practical impact on shoppers’ routines remains unclear, as no data on accuracy or speed has been shared. For now, the tool sits as an optional aid, not a replacement for manual selection, and its usefulness will likely be judged by how often users need to correct the AI’s suggestions.
In short, Uber Eats has added an AI‑driven Cart Assistant, but consumers must remain vigilant when relying on it.
Further Reading
- Uber Eats rolls out AI assistant for grocery shopping - Axios
- The shortcut your grocery list's been waiting for - Uber Newsroom
- Uber adding AI tool and 'virtual sales aisle' to its app - Grocery Dive
- AI in the Aisles: Smarter Apps for Smarter Shopper Journeys - Mars United
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Common Questions Answered
How will Uber Eats' new AI chatbot help users find restaurants?
The AI chatbot will allow customers to ask specific queries like "Show me highly rated Mexican options delivered within 30 minutes" or request meal recommendations. The bot will surface restaurant options based on factors including proximity, user order history, and the restaurant's ability to fulfill the order.
What additional features is Uber Eats introducing alongside the AI chatbot?
Uber Eats is launching several new app features, with a focus on its grocery segment. One key addition is the ability for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) participants to use their benefits to buy groceries on the platform starting next year.
How are other food delivery services incorporating AI into their platforms?
Companies like Instacart and DoorDash are also exploring AI integration, with Instacart adding a similar search assistant earlier this year and DoorDash discussing an AI bot as a customer concierge. Some restaurants, like IHOP, have already added AI-powered recommendation tools to their online ordering systems.
What makes Uber Eats' AI chatbot unique in the food delivery market?
The Uber Eats AI chatbot can help users find restaurants, give recommendations, and reorder past meals with specific criteria-based searches. Users can ask for complex queries like finding meals for the week under $100 or discovering specific types of cuisine within certain delivery timeframes.