Target subsidiary Shipt, an Alabama-based delivery service, has launched an intuitive AI assistant designed to let customers shop the way they naturally think, plan and live.

Called Ask Shipt, it is available on the Shipt app and Shipt.com; users simply describe what they’re looking for or even upload a photo to build a customised cart in seconds. Whether balancing picky eaters or looking for a sale on kids snacks, Ask Shipt can help with the mental load.

For example, if a user sees a dish on social media or at a restaurant, they can a photo, upload it to Ask Shipt, and the feature automatically identifies and adds all the ingredients to the cart. It can also handle prompts such as “Create a cart for my Saturday tailgate for 25 people and include some brunch items” or “Build a cart for easy school lunches and after-school snacks”.

Budget conscious shoppers can ask for a weeknight meal for a family of five under $35, or inquire about current store sales and weekend promotions.

Shoppers maintain complete control. Every recommendation can be reviewed, swapped or edited before checkout, ensuring dietary needs and personal preferences are met.

“At Shipt, we’re focused on making shopping feel more personalised, intuitive and helpful to families with their day to day lives,” said Katie Stratton from Shipt. “Ask Shipt brings people-centric AI directly into the shopping journey, helping members move from inspiration to a personalised cart in moments. Whether they’re planning family meals, preparing for a celebration or tackling everyday errands, shoppers can discover the products they need across Shipt’s marketplace of more than 100 retailer partners with greater ease and confidence.”

Alongside Ask Shipt, customers can also shop through ChatGPT and Claude, explore curated, seasonal Shipt Kits and, coming soon, Shared Lists. Shared Lists is a collaborative way family members, roommates and friends can contribute in real time to a shopping list that can be turned into a cart with one click.

“As we continue to innovate, our focus remains the same: helping people spend less time managing their shopping and more time focused on what matters most,” said Smrutha Ipparthi, chief technology officer at Shipt. “From AI-powered shopping experiences to new collaborative tools like Shared Lists, we’re building practical innovations that fit naturally into everyday life. Ask Shipt is just one example of how we’re combining leading technology with the human understanding and connection that have always been at the heart of the Shipt experience.”

Shipt (corporate.shipt.com) is a digital one-stop shop that provides access to a marketplace of more than 100 retailers and same-day delivery offerings. Shipt is an independently operated subsidiary of Target (corporate.target.com) and is available to 80% of the US population.