Alexa Plus Adds Voice Orders for Grubhub and Uber Eats
▼ Summary
– Amazon has introduced a conversational feature for ordering food via Grubhub and Uber Eats through Alexa, designed to mimic a natural restaurant ordering experience.
– The update allows users to modify their order mid-conversation without waiting for Alexa to finish speaking, with the assistant only intervening for help.
– This feature is part of Amazon’s broader effort to make Alexa more conversational, following the launch of its AI-powered Alexa Plus service.
– It is currently rolling out exclusively to Alexa Plus subscribers who have an Echo Show 8 or larger device, with no timeline provided for wider availability.
– Amazon plans to expand this conversational ordering model to other areas like grocery shopping and travel planning in the future.
A new feature rolling out to Alexa Plus subscribers now allows for seamless voice ordering through Grubhub and Uber Eats. This conversational update aims to transform how users interact with the assistant, moving beyond the rigid “ask and answer” model to a more natural, back-and-forth dialogue. The process is designed to mimic ordering in a restaurant, where you can build, modify, or add items to your cart simply by speaking.
Amazon emphasizes that the entire interaction is meant to be fluid. You can change your mind, ask for a drink, or modify an item mid-conversation without waiting for a prompt. Alexa will only intervene if you need assistance or have a specific question. This shift is a core part of the company’s investment in generative AI-powered Alexa Plus, launched last year to create a more useful and adaptive digital assistant.
Currently, the feature is available to Alexa Plus subscribers who own an Echo Show 8 or larger device, which displays order changes in real time. Amazon has not shared a specific timeline for a broader rollout to other gadgets. To begin, users must link their Grubhub or Uber Eats accounts via the Alexa app under More > Alexa+ Store > Food & Reservations.
Once connected, saved restaurants and past orders sync automatically. You can search by cuisine or restaurant name, reorder a previous meal, or start a new one. Voice commands like “show me desserts” or “show me some Italian restaurants” will pull up options, with a full cart summary presented before purchase. Order updates appear in the “For You” section, and you can always ask Alexa for a delivery status.
This food ordering capability represents the beginning of a larger strategy. Amazon describes it as “just the start of our long-term vision for how customers can interact with Alexa.” The company has rebuilt its traditional voice assistant into an AI-powered platform that understands natural language, hoping a more intelligent and conversational tool will meet user needs and maintain competitiveness in the crowded AI assistant market.
Looking ahead, Amazon plans to expand this conversational ordering experience to other domains, including grocery shopping and travel planning, further integrating Alexa into daily routines.
(Source: The Verge)
