DoorDash launched an AI chatbot that lets customers order by uploading photos or speaking, rather than scrolling through menus.

What happened: DoorDash introduced Ask DoorDash, an AI chatbot that accepts photos of grocery lists and recipes, voice prompts, or written requests to fill shopping carts. During its limited rollout to select iOS users, nearly half of takeout orders via the tool were made by people who had never ordered from that restaurant before. The chatbot also makes recommendations based on past orders and social media reviews, and will eventually handle restaurant reservations.

Why it matters: The move mirrors steps taken by competitors Uber Eats and Instacart, which have added AI assistants to their platforms. By letting users bypass traditional browsing, DoorDash aims to make the ordering experience faster and more personalized—reducing friction that may have kept new customers away.

What to watch: The chatbot will roll out to more users in the coming weeks. The tool will eventually gain the capacity to make reservations on behalf of diners.