Amazon has upgraded its AI assistant, Alexa+, to facilitate food ordering from Uber Eats and Grubhub through conversational interaction. This new feature allows users to mimic the experience of ordering at a restaurant or drive-thru.a
Starting today, users can request specific cuisines, browse menus, ask questions, and customize their orders seamlessly within a single conversation. The design aims to enhance the ordering experience, making it more interactive and user-friendly.
To utilize the feature, users must link their Grubhub or Uber Eats accounts through the Alexa app. This linkage enables previous orders to sync automatically, facilitating easy reordering of favorite meals or exploring new restaurant options.
Users can initiate an order by stating preferences, such as “I want to order Italian for delivery.” Alexa+ will suggest various restaurant options. After confirming the order, users receive a detailed summary of the cart, including item quantities and prices.
The new feature is being rolled out to Alexa+ customers using Echo Show 8 devices and larger. Amazon stated that this advancement is part of its strategy to establish adaptive interaction models, which could later extend to grocery shopping and travel arrangements.
This launch occurs alongside the growing role of AI in the food industry, particularly within fast-food chains that have incorporated AI in drive-thrus. However, challenges persist regarding order accuracy. In 2024, McDonald’s paused its AI cashier initiative after errors, including an incident where nine sweet teas were added to an order. Taco Bell has also faced scrutiny due to viral videos of AI-related mishaps.
Since its U.S. launch and subsequent expansion to the U.K., Alexa+ features have been diversifying, including the introduction of new personality styles such as “Sassy,” “Brief,” “Chill,” and “Sweet.” This indicates a continuous evolution in user interactions with the AI assistant.
