DoorDash is testing an AI assistant that lets eligible U.S. customers order food through Apple’s Messages app. The company is inviting iPhone users to join a waitlist for the pilot, which can use account information and previous purchases to help build an order.

Customers begin by messaging the assistant using the phone number linked to their DoorDash account. The service can use saved preferences and order history to suggest items, assemble a cart and apply a stored payment method at checkout. DoorDash cautions that users should review their carts before paying because the AI may make mistakes.

How DoorDash’s Messages assistant works

The assistant is designed to handle a food-ordering conversation rather than requiring customers to open the DoorDash app. Once a request is connected to an account, it can draw on past purchases and preferences when putting together recommendations.

Users can also view food photos within the conversation. DoorDash says the assistant can accept a picture of a customer’s refrigerator and use it to offer recipe ideas, along with suggestions for ingredients that may be missing.

The messaging feature is being offered as a pilot to select U.S. account holders. DoorDash has not said that the service is broadly available, and the company’s waitlist currently targets iOS users.

Joining the DoorDash AI beta

U.S. customers using an iPhone can visit doordash.com/text, enter their phone number and select Continue to request access. DoorDash says support for Android devices is coming soon.

The assistant extends DoorDash’s broader investment in conversational ordering. The company launched Ask DoorDash inside its main app in June, giving customers another way to search for food and receive recommendations through natural-language requests.

Why the Messages integration matters

Bringing ordering into Messages could make DoorDash more convenient for customers who prefer to handle everyday tasks inside an existing conversation. It also gives the company’s AI tools access to account context, including previous orders and payment details, so the assistant can reduce the number of steps involved in checkout.

That convenience comes with the need for careful review. Because the feature can misunderstand requests or select unsuitable items, DoorDash is telling beta participants to check the final cart before completing a purchase. The limited pilot will help determine how reliably the assistant handles ordering and recommendations before a wider release.