Uber Eats is debuting a new AI assistant called Cart Assistant to help customers build grocery shopping carts using text or images, including handwritten lists. The feature is available at dozens of major retailers, including Safeway, Albertsons, and Kroger. It considers user preferences, store availability, and allows for easy edits.
Praveen Neppalli Naga, Uber’s technology lead, said the tool exemplifies the company’s approach to AI: practical solutions grounded in real user behavior. The launch follows other AI innovations from Uber, such as AI-generated menu descriptions and customer review summaries for restaurants.
The move is part of Uber and DoorDash’s ongoing expansion into grocery delivery, positioning them against Instacart. Uber has recently added partners including Aldi and FreshDirect, supporting growth in a market that saw gross bookings rise 26% year-over-year to $25.4 billion in Q4. The launch also reflects a broader trend of AI adoption in retail, with competitors like Instacart, Amazon, and Walmart introducing similar AI-driven tools.
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