Uber Creating AI Chatbot to Enhance App Experience
Uber Technologies Inc. is currently working on an AI-driven chatbot that will be incorporated into its app, following the trend of numerous companies utilizing this language tool to enhance customer service, marketing, and other automated functions.
“We’re working on it right now,” CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in an interview on Bloomberg Technology on Tuesday. He didn’t go into detail about what the chatbot could do, but highlighted the ways Uber currently uses AI in its business.
“We’ve been working on machine learning and artificial intelligence systems for years and years,” he told Emily Chang. “Every time you encounter a car or a courier, there are algorithms that make it possible, the time of day, the distance, it’s all driven by machine learning.”
Uber’s delivery rivals, including DoorDash Inc. and Instacart Inc., are also building chatbots.
DoorDash is working on a system called DashAI that would speed up ordering and help customers find food options in the app. In May, Instacart released a new feature called “Ask Instacart,” based on OpenAI Inc.’s application programming interface, or API, that allows customers to ask questions about food preparation.
Uber posted its first-ever operating profit on Tuesday, but revenue missed analysts’ estimates and growth slowed, sending shares down about 6%.
