Uber Eats has launched a new artificial intelligence feature that enables users to generate shopping cart items via text or images. The company continues to enhance its platform with AI capabilities, having previously introduced AI-generated menu descriptions and review summaries last year. Uber is competing with rivals DoorDash and Instacart for market share in the online grocery delivery sector.

Uber Eats is integrating artificial intelligence into the shopping list creation process. On Wednesday, Uber announced that its food delivery platform has released a new AI shopping assistant, allowing consumers to directly add items to their cart by inputting text or uploading images, such as a handwritten list. Uber stated that this feature is now available through partnerships with dozens of major retailers, including Safeway, Albertsons, and Kroger. The tool automatically accounts for user preferences and store inventory levels, and allows customers to modify selected items before checkout. In a statement, Uber's Head of Technology, Pravin Nepali Naga, commented: "The shopping cart assistant reflects Uber's approach to AI: starting from genuine user needs to build practical solutions within the app. By developing features based on real user behavior, we can create tools that are truly useful and intuitive."

Uber, along with its competitors in the ride-hailing and food delivery industries, is increasingly incorporating AI functionalities to improve the platform experience for both consumers and merchants. In July of last year, Uber introduced new tools for restaurants, including AI-generated menu descriptions and summaries of customer reviews. Both Uber and DoorDash have made significant moves into the grocery delivery space, directly challenging Instacart. Both companies launched their grocery delivery services during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In recent months, Uber has continued to expand its retail partnerships, adding chains such as Aldi and FreshDirect; the company announced five new partner stores just last week. In the fourth quarter, Uber's delivery segment reported a 26% year-over-year increase in gross bookings, reaching $25.4 billion.