DoorDash has launched an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot that allows users to search for food, groceries and restaurant reservations using natural language prompts and images.
The feature, called “Ask DoorDash,” was announced on Thursday and is being rolled out on iOS in select regions.
Instead of browsing through restaurants and stores manually, users can describe what they want in their own words.
“Traditional search works best when you know the exact restaurant or table you’re looking for,” DoorDash said in a blog post.
“Ask DoorDash is designed for the moments when you don’t.”
Grocery shopping through photos and recipes
The chatbot can build grocery carts using:
- A recipe link
- A picture of a grocery list
- An image from a cookbook
DoorDash said the feature automatically adds products and quantities to the cart.
Users will also be prompted to confirm whether they already have common ingredients such as:
- Sugar
- Butter
The aim is to avoid unnecessary purchases.
The chatbot can also:
- Reorder previous grocery carts
- Recommend items based on earlier purchases
Restaurant suggestions based on prompts
Users can ask for recommendations using broader requests.
For example, someone searching for “a filling dinner for a family of four” will receive restaurant suggestions along with explanations for why the options match the request.
Results can be refined further with additional instructions, such as:
- Kid-friendly options
- Vegetarian meals
- Mild dishes
Once a restaurant is selected, Ask DoorDash can build a cart based on:
- Dietary preferences
- Budget
- Group size
- Previous orders
Reservation feature included
The chatbot also supports DoorDash Reservations.
Users can make requests such as:
- A table for two
- A date-night dinner
- An 8 p.m. reservation downtown
The app then presents restaurants with available tables and allows users to narrow the results further.
Part of a broader AI push
DoorDash’s latest feature comes as food delivery and shopping platforms increasingly adopt conversational AI tools.
Earlier this year:
- Uber Eats launched an AI-powered Cart Assistant.
- Instacart introduced an AI shopping assistant for grocery retailers.
DoorDash said Ask DoorDash will become available to more users across the United States in the coming weeks.
TL;DR:
DoorDash has launched an AI chatbot called Ask DoorDash that lets users order food, groceries and make restaurant reservations using text prompts, recipe links and photos. The feature is initially rolling out on iOS in select areas.
AI summary:
- DoorDash unveiled the AI chatbot “Ask DoorDash.”
- Users can order groceries using photos and recipe links.
- The feature also provides restaurant recommendations and builds carts.
- Ask DoorDash supports restaurant reservations.
- The rollout has begun on iOS and will expand across the US in the coming weeks.
