DoorDash said it’s only received ‘several hundred’ orders from AI agents

You can still place your usual food delivery orders directly through the DoorDash app without encountering AI agent interference for now.

DoorDash reported that it has received a minimal number of orders, specifically "several hundred" in total, from third-party AI agents like Muse, Instinct, and Fo. This is a stark contrast to the company's average of 3 million daily deliveries. CEO Tony Xu acknowledged that AI agents represent a dynamic and evolving area in commerce but emphasized that current usage is very limited. While DoorDash's own AI-powered ordering tools are available, the majority of customer orders are still placed through its primary app. The company, however, aims to understand and potentially foster relationships with third-party agent developers, seeing future opportunities for advertising within these agents.

Despite significant industry discussion around AI agents revolutionizing e-commerce, DoorDash's figures indicate that this shift has yet to materialize at scale for its platform. The company's cautious approach, acknowledging the "dynamic" nature of AI agents while highlighting their current low adoption for order generation, suggests a period of observation rather than immediate disruption for existing ordering channels. This data point challenges the prevailing narrative of imminent AI agent dominance in consumer transactions, implying that established platforms still hold significant sway over user behavior.

DoorDash's strategic posture, which includes developing its own AI ordering capabilities and exploring partnerships with third-party agents, points to a dual approach: hedging bets on future AI integration while protecting its current user base. The company's openness to learning about agentic use cases and potential advertising revenue streams within these agents suggests a long-term vision that may eventually see AI agents play a larger role, but on DoorDash's terms. This balanced strategy could influence how other delivery services and online retailers navigate the nascent AI agent landscape, prioritizing control and monetization as the technology matures.