ChatGPT For Food Delivery

When Will This Go Live?

It’s no secret that the push on AI in the industry has happened incredibly quickly over the last few years, and the advancements are not showing any signs of slowing down. The rollout of ChatGPT’s food and grocery delivery integrations began in early 2024, with Instacart, Uber Eats, and DoorDash as the first official launch partners in the United States. These integrations were initially made available to ChatGPT Plus users through the plugin and GPTs store features.

Current status

Available now in the US: If you're in the U.S. and using ChatGPT Plus, you can already access these integrations within the ChatGPT interface.

Expanding in 2025: OpenAI has confirmed that broader access is being rolled out throughout 2025, with new regions and partner features being added over time.

What about the UK?

As of now, UK users do not yet have access to these delivery integrations. However, both Uber Eats and DoorDash (via Caviar) already operate in the UK market, and Instacart-equivalents like Ocado or Amazon Fresh are likely candidates for future integrations.

While no official UK launch date has been announced, the momentum of AI integrations in e-commerce suggests a late 2025 or early 2026 launch could be the likely answer. If this sounds like something that could assist your business or suit you personally, keep an eye on OpenAI’s updates and plugin announcements to stay ahead of the actual release.

What This Means for the Restaurant Industry

The integration of ChatGPT with delivery platforms like Uber Eats, Instacart, and DoorDash marks a turning point in how customers discover and order food. Instead of scrolling through a list of restaurants, users can now simply ask ChatGPT for relevant suggestions and receive AI-curated recommendations in return. While this certainly unlocks greater convenience for the customer, it does represent a shift of even more power into the hands of the platforms, rather than the restaurants themselves.

A blow to direct ordering

For small, independent restaurants, this is likely to have a real impact. Many rely on direct delivery and are often managed in-house by tight-knit teams to maintain control over margins and customer relationships. But with ChatGPT’s integrations funnelling traffic straight into major delivery apps, direct delivery channels may take a hit, potentially resulting in reduced revenue and visibility for restaurants that aren’t plugged into these ecosystems.

Just as hotels have long faced commission-heavy intermediaries like OTAs, restaurants may now experience a similar squeeze. You could lose control over how your brand is presented, what menu items are highlighted, and even how prices appear.

Larger chains vs. local operators

For larger chains already working with Uber Eats and DoorDash, the shift may be less disruptive. These businesses are well-positioned to benefit from the scale, data, and automation that come with being part of such platforms. But for smaller, perhaps family-run restaurants, the shift could potentially widen the digital divide, making it harder to compete for visibility and orders without ceding control or paying high fees.

New questions for restaurant owners

This evolution also raises important strategic questions:

How do restaurants ensure they appear in ChatGPT-powered recommendations?

Who controls the menu data, imagery, and brand positioning within these integrations?

How is local SEO handled within AI environments?

Can offers, allergens, or customisation options still be displayed as intended?

Right now, the answers remain unclear. OpenAI and its delivery partners have yet to publish specifics about ranking factors or data management. But one thing is certain: if ChatGPT becomes the default discovery tool for food delivery, it will reshape how restaurants are found and how decisions are made.

A more personal, competitive discovery model

This shift toward conversational ordering could make the discovery process feel more personal, with AI filtering results based on past behaviour, preferences, location, time of day, or even mood. That’s great for customers, but it also makes the competition for placement fiercer, as restaurants vie to appear in that limited shortlist of recommendations.

Instead of scrolling endlessly through apps, future customers may start their food search with a question, not a tap, and the answers they receive will depend on how well a restaurant is integrated, optimised, and understood by AI.

How to Drive More Direct Food Orders Through ChatGPT

As ChatGPT becomes a gateway for food discovery, restaurants need to adapt quickly to ensure they appear in AI-powered ordering suggestions and guide customers toward direct ordering channels wherever possible.

To optimise your restaurant website for visibility in ChatGPT’s food delivery responses, focus on the same principles used in Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) and optimise for ranking in AI search. 

Structure your content clearly: Include key information about your menu, opening hours, cuisine, dietary options, and location in plain, well-structured HTML.

Use natural language: Write your content the way people ask questions, e.g., “What’s the best pizza in Shoreditch?” or “Vegan Indian food near me”.

Add schema markup: Use structured data like local business schema to help AI systems understand your content.

Highlight direct delivery: Make your own ordering system, app, or delivery link highly visible, with persuasive USPs like “no delivery fees” or “get 10% off your first order”.