Uber Eats has rolled out a new AI‑powered feature called “Cart Assistant” aimed at dramatically simplifying grocery shopping within its app. The tool, currently in beta for U.S. users, allows customers to generate a filled‑out grocery cart from something as simple as a text shopping list or a photograph of a handwritten list or recipe ingredients. By tapping the purple Cart Assistant icon on a grocery store’s page in the Uber Eats app, users can upload their list and have the AI automatically populate their cart with available items, showing real‑time prices, store availability and applicable promotions. Users still retain control to edit, swap or add products before checkout.
According to Uber’s Chief Technology Officer, Praveen Neppalli Naga, Cart Assistant is designed to address a frequent consumer frustration, the time and effort involved in building a grocery order online — by moving “from idea to checkout in seconds.” The AI also personalizes suggestions using past purchase history so customers see familiar brands and items first. Uber says this reflects its broader strategy of integrating practical, task‑oriented AI across the platform rather than simply offering generic recommendations.
At launch, Cart Assistant supports dozens of grocery partners, including major chains such as Albertsons, Aldi, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts and Wegmans, with plans to add more retailers and additional features over time, such as recipe inspiration and meal‑planning assistance. The feature is initially available for iPhone users, with Android support expected to follow.
Uber’s rollout comes amid a broader industry trend of integrating AI into digital commerce. Rivals like Instacart and DoorDash have also introduced AI‑driven grocery tools, Instacart with its AI search and personalized shopping capabilities and DoorDash with conversational interfaces, reflecting growing competition for customer attention and market share in the grocery delivery segment. By embedding agent‑like capabilities that handle complex tasks such as cart creation, these platforms are reshaping how consumers interact with grocery services online, with implications for user convenience and competitive dynamics across the industry