Instacart launches Smart Shop AI for healthier grocery shopping

Instacart is launching a new AI-based feature called Smart Shop. This tool is designed to help customers shop for groceries that match their dietary needs. It allows users to filter their shopping lists based on 14 specific dietary preferences, such as gluten-free, high protein, and organic. In addition to dietary preferences, Smart Shop includes 30 health tags. These tags help identify items that are gluten-free, heart-healthy, vegan, and more. Daniel Danker, Instacart's chief product officer, emphasized the goal of making grocery shopping a personalized and easier experience. This announcement comes at a time when many people are more aware of their diets, partly due to the increasing use of weight-loss medications. According to a recent study, grocery purchases among users of these drugs have decreased by up to 6%. Instacart is partnering with the American Diabetes Association to help provide easier access to nutrition advice tailored to individual health needs. The use of AI in grocery shopping is an ongoing trend. For example, Kroger launched a healthy cart option two years ago. Other retailers are also creating smart shopping tools to promote healthier choices in-store. Instacart aims to make grocery shopping simpler and more tailored to each customer's health goals.