DoorDash has debuted a fresh method for placing your next meal order: through text messages in Apple’s Messages application, driven by artificial intelligence. Here’s what you need to know.
DoorDash’s Text Ordering Arrives on iPhone, Powered by an AI Agent
AI agents are becoming a permanent fixture, and they’re not limited to adorable digital personas. While Meta’s Muse and OpenAI’s Dots have captured headlines, AI agents are also emerging in less conspicuously “AI” forms.
For instance, DoorDash today rolled out the capability to bypass the app entirely and place food orders via text in Apple’s Messages app. Initially limited to the US, users must first sign up for this waitlist. The entire system runs on an AI agent.
Here’s how it functions, according to DoorDash’s announcement:
– Text your cravings: Request a particular dish, ask for a local suggestion matching your mood, or just reorder your standard Friday night family meal.
– Bypass the search: DoorDash hunts down local eateries, scans their menus, and proposes a cart tailored to your mood. It even sends photos of recommended dishes directly from the restaurant’s DoorDash store page.
– Genuinely personalized ordering: Text “order my usual” and it understands you’re referring to your Friday night order — no need to specify the dish, modifications, or restaurant. It already knows your preferences like skipping cilantro, adding extra sauce, or always including dessert. The more you order, the smarter it gets, and it can even proactively message to ask if you want your regular coffee based on your daily routine.
– Handle group preferences effortlessly: Coordinating large group orders is challenging when everyone wants different things. The system manages varied dietary needs and quantities in a single order, so you don’t have to juggle everyone’s requests.
– Complete checkout without opening the app: Finalize your order directly within the text conversation and it handles the checkout process.
To begin, sign up for DoorDash’s waitlist and you’ll be notified once text access is granted. Depending on demand, access could be immediate or may require some waiting.
Would you like to use DoorDash’s AI agent for ordering through Apple’s Messages app? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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