Target’s same-day delivery service Shipt has launched an AI shopping assistant called Ask Shipt to help customers build custom carts through natural language prompts. The tool converts specific requests into ready-to-buy lists, allowing users to ask for items needed for events like a tailgate for twenty-five people or generate easy school lunches. Customers can also upload photos of dishes they wish to recreate, prompting the system to identify and add the necessary ingredients to their order. Furthermore, the assistant can propose meal ideas based on a set budget, such as finding a weeknight dinner for a family of five under thirty-five dollars. This move adds Shipt to a growing list of delivery platforms integrating similar AI features into their apps, following recent announcements from Instacart, Uber Eats, and DoorDash.
The practical value lies in reducing the friction of meal planning and list creation for busy households. By automating the translation of vague ideas or visual references into specific grocery items, the feature aims to save time during checkout. It also aligns with Target’s broader strategy of embedding artificial intelligence directly into its digital shopping experience to personalise interactions. The tool is currently available within the Shipt app and on the company website.
- The assistant processes photo uploads to identify ingredients.
- Budget constraints can be set for meal suggestions.
- Target has previously added AI photo search and review summaries.
