Alexa+ is getting new food ordering experiences with Uber Eats and Grubhub

Amazon’s latest upgrade to Alexa+, its next-generation AI assistant, lets you order food from popular delivery services Uber Eats and Grubhub in a conversational way, just as if you were talking to a waiter at a restaurant or placing a drive-thru order, according to Amazon.

The goal of the new Alexa+ feature is to create a more natural and interactive ordering experience. Starting today, users can start ordering food, explore menu options, ask questions and customize their meals, all in one conversation. If users change their minds midway, want to add dessert, or adjust portions, they can make those changes instantly.

To activate the feature, users need to link their Grubhub or Uber Eats account through the Alexa app. Once linked, past orders will automatically sync, making it easy to reorder favorite meals or discover new restaurants. Users can then say something like, “I want to order Italian food for delivery,” and Alexa+ will guide them to different restaurant options. Once an order is placed, users get a comprehensive summary of the items in their cart, including quantities and prices.

This new food ordering experience is rolling out to Alexa+ customers with Echo Show 8 and larger devices. Amazon explains that this development is a major advance in the company’s goal of creating adaptive interaction models. This initiative lays the foundation for expanding similar features into other areas, such as grocery shopping and travel arrangements.

The Alexa+ upgrade comes amid the broader implications of artificial intelligence in the food industry. Fast food chains have already started using AI assistants in ordering, but challenges remain, especially regarding order accuracy. In 2024, McDonald’s paused its initiative after some missteps, such as an AI cashier mistakenly adding nine types of sweet tea to a customer’s order. Additionally, Taco Bell has faced its share of mishaps, with videos of AI mistakes going viral.

Since the introduction of Alexa+ in the US and its recent expansion into the UK, the features continue to grow, including new personal styles for Alexa, such as a “Sassy” option designed for adults, as well as other styles such as Short, Chill, and Sweet.