This week's AI automation stories centered on whether AI agents are actually placing orders and bookings yet. DoorDash's CEO said third-party agents have sent only several hundred orders, against about 3 million daily deliveries in the company's 2025 report, and Ars Technica reported that almost no one uses agents for DoorDash orders.
On the product side, Zest added a text-message concierge that recommends restaurants and books tables through OpenTable, Resy or SevenRooms. Taken together, the stories point to early-stage activity in agent-based ordering and booking rather than a mature channel.
DoorDash says only several hundred orders came from AI agents
DoorDash CEO Tony Xu said on the third-quarter earnings call that third-party AI agents, including Muse, Instinct and Fo, have sent several hundred orders. Against about 3 million deliveries on an average day in the company's 2025 report, that is small. Xu said most users still order through DoorDash's own app and that the company does not want to ignore or overstate the trend.
Best for: Readers tracking whether agent ordering is taking real share of delivery
Hardly Anyone Uses AI Agents for DoorDash Orders So Far
Ars Technica reported on 31 October 2026 that almost no one uses AI agents to place DoorDash orders. The report describes agent-based ordering as a relatively new e-commerce use case still in an early stage. The text we have only includes the opening summary, so the underlying figures are not visible here. Treat the conclusion as a signal of early adoption, not as a complete usage picture.
Best for: Readers deciding whether agent-based ordering is worth early time
Zest's AI Restaurant Concierge Now Books Tables Over Text
Zest, the restaurant discovery app launched earlier this year, has added a text-message concierge. Users can text it directly or add it to a group chat to vote on where to eat. It recommends restaurants, answers questions such as whether a place has Wi-Fi, and books tables through OpenTable, Resy or SevenRooms, according to TechCrunch.
Best for: Diners who coordinate group dinners over text messages
The takeaway
Practical takeaway: treat agent-based ordering and booking as an early channel rather than a proven one. Before building workflows around it, measure how much of your own orders or bookings actually come from outside apps, and review that figure again over time.
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