Amazon has unveiled a new upgrade to its next-generation AI assistant, Alexa+, bringing a more natural and interactive way to order food. The latest feature allows users to place orders through Uber Eats and Grubhub using conversational AI.
A Smarter Way to Order Food
With this update, Alexa+ transforms the food ordering experience into a human-like conversation. Instead of manually browsing apps, users can simply speak naturally—similar to ordering at a restaurant or drive-thru.
Users can request cuisines, explore menu options, ask questions about dishes, and customize their meals—all within a single interaction. The assistant also allows real-time changes, making it easy to adjust quantities, switch items, or add extras like desserts during the conversation.
Seamless Integration and Personalized Experience
To use the feature, customers need to link their Uber Eats or Grubhub accounts through the Alexa app. Once connected, Alexa+ syncs past orders, enabling quick reordering of favorite meals and personalized recommendations.
For example, a user can say, “I want to order Italian food,” and Alexa+ will suggest restaurants, guide menu selections, and provide a detailed summary of the order, including pricing and quantities before checkout.
Rolling Out on Echo Show Devices
This new capability is initially rolling out to Alexa+ users on devices like the Echo Show 8 and larger screens. Amazon aims to expand the feature further as part of its broader vision for more adaptive and intelligent user interactions.
Part of a Bigger AI Vision
The upgrade reflects Amazon’s push toward creating more intuitive AI experiences. The company sees this as a stepping stone toward expanding similar conversational capabilities into other areas such as grocery shopping and travel bookings.
AI in Food Ordering Still Faces Challenges
While AI-powered ordering is gaining traction, it hasn’t been without issues. In 2024, McDonald’s paused its AI drive-thru experiment after encountering order inaccuracies, including viral incidents involving incorrect orders.
Similarly, Taco Bell has faced challenges with AI errors, highlighting that while the technology is promising, it still requires refinement.
Expanding Alexa+ Features Globally
Since launching in the U.S. and expanding to the U.K., Alexa+ continues to evolve with new features, including customizable personality modes like “Sassy,” “Chill,” “Brief,” and “Sweet,” offering users a more personalized assistant experience.
