Uber launched Cart Assistant, an AI-powered feature designed to help users build grocery baskets faster in the Uber Eats app.
The beta feature allows users to type a shopping list or upload an image of a handwritten list or recipe ingredients, and the AI automatically adds items to their cart. Cart Assistant accounts for store-level availability, pricing and applicable promotions while prioritizing familiar items based on past orders.
“Users were telling us that they wanted a quicker way to shop, and we know how precious your time is,” said Praveen Neppalli Naga, chief technology officer at Uber. “Cart Assistant helps you get from idea to checkout in seconds.”
How the feature works
Users search for their grocery store on the Uber Eats home screen and tap the purple Cart Assistant icon on the storefront to start shopping. The tool accepts typed lists, photos of handwritten shopping lists or screenshots of recipe ingredients.
After Cart Assistant adds items to the basket, users can edit selections, swap items or add additional products from the store. The system builds on past orders to prioritize familiar items such as a customer’s regular milk or favorite oatmeal, making the experience faster and more personalized.
“This is the beta version of Cart Assistant, and an early step in how we’re solving practical problems with agentic AI on Uber Eats, focused on areas we can make the biggest difference,” Neppalli Naga shared.
The company emphasized that Cart Assistant represents its approach to AI – starting with real customer needs and building practical solutions within the app. Uber said it will learn from how people use Cart Assistant and continue improving the experience over time.
The launch marks Uber’s latest effort to streamline grocery shopping through technology, reducing the number of taps required and saving time for users navigating online grocery purchases.
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