DoorDash has introduced an AI-powered agent that allows customers to order food and groceries through text messages, signaling a shift toward conversational, or “agentic,” commerce. The tool is designed to bypass the traditional app-browsing experience by allowing users to interact with the platform through natural language.
The feature is currently available in a beta phase for U.S. users who join a waitlist. At launch, the AI agent operates exclusively within Apple’s Messages app (iMessage), with support for Android devices planned for a later date. By linking a phone number to an existing DoorDash profile, the agent can process specific commands such as “order my usual,” utilizing stored payment methods to finalize transactions without requiring the user to open the DoorDash app.
Beyond simple meal orders, the system includes multimodal capabilities, such as the ability for users to text photos of the inside of their refrigerators. The AI then analyzes the image to suggest recipe ideas or identify items that may need restocking. DoorDash co-founder Andy Fang noted that the strategic goal of the transition is to make the process of obtaining essentials feel less like “work” for the consumer.
While the service aims for convenience, early testing has highlighted technical hurdles. Bloomberg reported that during trials of early builds, the AI agent occasionally provided price quotes that differed from the actual totals displayed within the primary DoorDash app.
DoorDash announced several automation-focused initiatives. DoorDash detailed “DoorDash Air,” a drone delivery pilot program in Northern California launched in partnership with brands like Chipotle and Popeyes. Additionally, the company introduced “Dasher Returns,” a dedicated service that allows users to schedule a pickup for retail returns for a flat fee of $7.99.
This expansion into text-based commerce follows a period of significant user engagement with DoorDash’s conversational technology. In the three months leading up to the text agent’s introduction, the company reported that users discovered more than 40,000 new restaurants using the existing “Ask DoorDash” feature. DoorDash currently maintains a 67% share of the U.S. food delivery market, even as competitors like Grubhub undergo ownership changes following its acquisition by Wonder.
