Uber Eats introduces AI to assist you with grocery shopping

Uber recently introduced a new AI feature within its Uber Eats app called "Cart Assistant" for grocery shopping. This innovative tool operates in two main ways: users can interact with it through text prompts similar to a chatbot to create a grocery list, or they can simply upload a picture of their shopping list and have the bot automatically add preferred items based on the user's order history. The Cart Assistant can generate a list even with vague descriptions like "milk, eggs, cereal," tailoring it to the user's preferred brands.

In the future, Uber plans to enhance Cart Assistant by introducing additional features such as full recipe suggestions, meal planning capabilities, the option to ask follow-up questions, and an expansion to include more retail partners.

While Cart Assistant may occasionally make errors as any chatbot might, Uber advises users to verify the results before finalizing any orders. At the initial launch, Cart Assistant is compatible with select grocery stores, including Albertsons, Aldi, CVS, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts, Walgreens, and Wegmans, with plans to include more stores in the future.

Although Uber collaborates with OpenAI to integrate Uber Eats into its suite of apps, the company did not confirm whether OpenAI's technology powers the new chatbot in Uber Eats. According to Uber spokesperson Richard Foord, Cart Assistant leverages publicly available LLM models in addition to Uber's proprietary AI technology stack.

Uber has been actively incorporating AI features into its platforms, such as exploring robotaxis with Waymo and implementing sidewalk delivery robots in various cities. To further enhance its products using delivery and customer data, the company recently reestablished its AI Labs to foster collaborations with partners.