Amazon’s latest update to Alexa+, its advanced AI assistant, enables users to order food from popular delivery services Uber Eats and Grubhub through natural conversation. This experience is designed to mimic chatting with a restaurant waiter or placing an order at a drive-thru, as shared by Amazon.
The goal of this new Alexa+ capability is to create a more intuitive and interactive ordering process. Starting today, users can initiate by requesting a specific cuisine, then explore menu items, ask questions, and fully customize their meal within a single, continuous conversation. If preferences change midway, for example, wanting to add a dessert or adjust quantities, these modifications can be made instantly.
To activate this feature, users must link their Grubhub or Uber Eats account via the Alexa app. Once connected, previous orders will automatically synchronize, simplifying reordering favorite meals or discovering new restaurants. Users can then voice commands such as, “I want to order Italian for delivery,” and Alexa+ will present various restaurant options. After the order is finalized, users will receive a detailed summary of their cart, including item quantities and prices.
This new food ordering functionality is progressively rolling out to Alexa+ customers who own Echo Show 8 devices or larger. Amazon clarifies that this development marks a significant step in the company’s ambition to establish adaptive interaction models. This groundwork is intended to facilitate the expansion of similar features into other domains, such as grocery shopping and travel planning.
This Alexa+ enhancement arrives amidst the broader implications of AI within the food industry. Fast food chains have already begun deploying AI assistants at drive-thrus, yet challenges persist, particularly concerning order accuracy. In 2024, McDonald’s paused its initiative after several errors, including an AI cashier mistakenly adding nine sweet teas to a customer’s order. Similarly, Taco Bell also encountered its share of mishaps, with viral videos demonstrating inaccuracies from its AI.
Since the introduction of Alexa+ in the U.S. and its recent expansion to the U.K., its features continue to expand. These additions include new personality styles for Alexa, such as a “Sassy” option designed for adults, as well as other styles like Brief, Chill, and Sweet.