Shipt, the same-day delivery arm of Target, has launched “Ask Shipt,” an AI-powered shopping assistant that translates user prompts into custom carts, marking its entry into the growing wave of delivery apps integrating artificial intelligence. The feature allows users to describe their shopping needs—like ingredients for a dinner party or ideas under a budget—and receive a ready-to-shop cart immediately.
The new tool enables natural-language commands along with image-based input. For example, users can upload a photo from a recipe or restaurant item, and Ask Shipt will identify component ingredients and add them straight into a cart. Prompts can cover scenarios such as creating brunch items for a gathering, planning weeknight meals for a family, or tailoring options to hit a specific spending limit.
With Ask Shipt, the company joins the likes of Instacart, Uber Eats, and DoorDash, all of which have introduced or expanded AI shopping assistants this year. Instacart recently introduced “Clementine,” its own assistant for grocery shopping.
On Target’s main e-commerce site, AI is already being used behind the scenes through features such as photo search, customer review summaries, and personalized shopping experiences. The rollout of Ask Shipt unifies the AI approach across both standalone delivery and Target’s broader online offerings.
Ask Shipt is now live across both the Shipt mobile app and Shipt.com. Users can begin using it immediately.
Why This Matters
This move reflects a broader trend of delivery-focused platforms experimenting with generative AI to streamline shopping and boost engagement. For users who struggle with meal planning, budgeting, or translating vague cravings into grocery lists, assistants like Ask Shipt reduce friction and time spent.
But it’s more than just convenience. For Target and Shipt, this technology opens doors for higher order values, more frequent purchases, and stronger customer loyalty. As AI-powered tools become table stakes, staying ahead—or at least keeping pace—with competitors will be critical.
Looking forward, the effectiveness of Ask Shipt will hinge on how well it understands diverse preferences, handles dietary needs, and maintains privacy. If done well, this could become the new norm in e-commerce—shopping by conversation rather than by hunt.
