DoorDash introduces AI chatbot to disrupt traditional food ordering
The food delivery giant is rolling out its latest artificial intelligence tool on iOS in select regions, aiming to replace scrolling with natural language prompts for restaurants, groceries, and reservations.
DoorDash has launched 'Ask DoorDash', a new artificial intelligence chatbot designed to facilitate conversational ordering for food and groceries. The tool enables users to search the application using text prompts and photos, a move intended to reduce reliance on traditional scrolling methods to build a shopping cart. The chatbot is currently rolling out on iOS in select regions, with a wider United States rollout planned for the coming weeks.
The feature allows for natural language searches, image-based recipe recognition, and personalised restaurant recommendations. According to the company, traditional search functions are best suited for users who already know the exact restaurant or table they wish to book. In contrast, 'Ask DoorDash' is engineered for moments of uncertainty, allowing users to describe what they are in the mood for or provide a recipe link to find specific items.
For grocery shopping, the app can populate a cart with items and correct quantities based on a photo of a cookbook page or a handwritten grocery list. The system also includes a feature to prompt users to check for existing staples, such as sugar or butter, to prevent duplicate purchases. Additionally, users can request to reorder their last grocery cart or receive suggestions based on previous orders.
In the restaurant sector, the chatbot provides personalised explanations for why specific venues match a user's query. For example, if a user requests a "filling dinner for a family of 4," the app surfaces restaurants alongside a blurb detailing the match. Users can further refine results with specific criteria, such as "kid-friendly vegetarian spots with mild options," and ask the tool to build a cart based on dietary preferences, budget, or group size.
The launch also includes a reservation feature, allowing users to find tables based on location, time, and occasion, such as a "date-night dinner around 8 PM." This development aligns with a broader industry trend where food delivery apps and tech giants are integrating AI to enhance personalised shopping experiences. Uber Eats launched an AI-powered "Cart Assistant" in February, while Instacart has rolled out an AI shopping assistant for grocers to offer to customers.
The specific regions where the iOS rollout is currently active have not been specified. The source material does not clarify if the AI features are available on the Android app or if the iOS release is exclusive initially. The timeline for the wider US rollout remains vague, described only as occurring in the coming weeks without specific dates.
