Instacart is betting on AI shopping carts that suggest what you should buy as you shop

Core Insights - Instacart is introducing Cart Assistant, an AI tool designed to assist shoppers in making purchasing decisions during their shopping experience [1][3] - The AI will be integrated into Instacart's retail websites and Caper smart shopping carts, which have been expanded since the acquisition of Caper AI in 2021 [2][6] - Cart Assistant will help customers manage their shopping lists, check for unwanted ingredients, and provide budget-friendly suggestions [4][5] Technology Integration - Sprouts Farmers Market plans to implement the AI technology in Caper carts at its stores, enhancing the shopping experience [2] - The smart carts automatically scan items and provide features like spending tallies, coupon access, and payment options [2] Data Utilization - Instacart has accumulated significant data from $1.5 billion in orders and a catalog of 17 million unique items, which will be leveraged to train AI models [10][11] - This data enables the company to understand consumer preferences and improve shopping suggestions [11] Competitive Landscape - Other retailers, such as Walmart, are also exploring AI integration to enhance the shopping experience, indicating a broader trend in the industry [12]