Uber Eats launches AI grocery assistant

Uber Eats launched Cart Assistant, an artificial intelligence feature, on February 11, allowing users to generate complete grocery baskets from text prompts or uploaded images. The beta tool is available in the Uber Eats app in the United States.

Customers access the feature by searching for a grocery store in the app and tapping the purple Cart Assistant icon on the store page.

They enter a shopping list or upload a photo of a handwritten note or recipe screenshot.

The AI then adds matching items to the cart while factoring in real-time store availability, prices and promotions.

Here's a visual step-by-step guide on how it works:

Credit: Uber

It also references the user's prior orders to prioritize preferred brands and products.

Users can edit the basket afterward by swapping items or adding others.

"Users were telling us that they wanted a quicker way to shop, and we know how precious your time is. Cart Assistant helps you get from idea to checkout in seconds," Praveen Neppalli Naga, chief technology officer at Uber, said in the company announcement.

The rollout began on iOS devices, with Android availability planned soon after.

The feature works with dozens of grocery partners including Albertsons, Aldi, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market and Wegmans.

"Cart Assistant reflects how we think about AI at Uber: starting with real customer needs and building practical solutions within the app," Naga said.

TechCrunch first reported the launch alongside the official announcement.

The tool is currently in beta.