DoorDash builds an AI chatbot into its ordering and reservation app

DoorDash has launched an in-app AI chatbot to help with ordering food and groceries and booking restaurant tables. The company treats the technology not only as a way to make things easier for end users, but also as a platform for a new B2B revenue stream.

How the built-in AI assistant works

The built-in chatbot can help users at every stage of their interaction with DoorDash. It can recommend dishes and products based on the user's order history, taste preferences and seasonal trends. The chatbot also helps build shopping lists, place orders at partner stores and book restaurant tables, with a choice of visit time.

The technology is integrated directly into the DoorDash mobile app, so users do not need to switch between several windows or apps. They simply type a request, and the AI helps find the right dishes, products or available tables.

Key features of the built-in assistant:

• Personalized dish and product recommendations based on the user's history
• Help building and optimizing grocery shopping lists
• Quick restaurant table booking, with a choice of time and party size
• Helpful answers to frequently asked questions about delivery, wait times and payment methods
• Support when there is a problem with an order or delivery

Expanding into the B2B market

DoorDash sees the chatbot not only as a way to make things easier for end users, but also as a potential source of new revenue. The company has announced plans to offer a version of the AI assistant to B2B clients: restaurants, cafe chains, grocery stores and other services that operate on the DoorDash platform.

Partners will be able to integrate the AI chatbot via an API and embed it on their websites and in their mobile apps. This would let companies improve customer engagement without building their own solution, reduce the load on support staff, speed up checkout and increase the share of completed purchases.

"Built-in AI assistants are becoming an integral part of the modern

user experience," analysts note.

Built-in AI is becoming the standard

DoorDash is joining a wave of large technology companies embedding AI assistants into the core of their products. This shows that generative AI is moving from experimentation and prototyping to practical use by end users.

Over recent months, similar chatbots have appeared in apps from Uber, Airbnb, Google and other tech giants. The trend shows that companies are investing more and more in building AI into core user flows, rather than treating it as an optional experimental feature. This suggests the technology is stable and useful enough for real-world tasks.

What this means for the ecosystem

DoorDash's AI chatbot launch shows that the technology is mature enough for mass use. For restaurants, stores and other DoorDash partners, a built-in AI assistant could significantly improve customer service without costly development of their own solution.

It also suggests that the future of delivery services and e-commerce belongs to personalized AI assistants that understand each user's preferences, offer relevant options and simplify the buying process. Companies that have not yet invested in AI integration may start to fall behind in the competitive race.