DoorDash Doubles Down on AI with Strategic New Initiatives

The food delivery giant DoorDash is making a concerted push to embed artificial intelligence across its operations, signaling a strategic expansion beyond its core service. This move coincides with renewed optimism from Wall Street analysts regarding the company's growth trajectory.

The investment firm Wedbush recently reinforced its bullish stance on DoorDash. Analyst Scott Devitt maintained his "Outperform" rating and raised the price target from $260 to $270. In a broader research note, Wedbush positioned DoorDash as a "Top-Pick" for 2026, placing it alongside technology leaders such as Amazon and Meta. This endorsement reflects confidence in the company's potential to sustain its expansion, even within a challenging consumer environment.

A Dual-Pronged AI Strategy Unveiled

Aligning with this vote of confidence, DoorDash launched two distinct AI-driven projects this week, each targeting a different facet of the consumer experience.

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• ChatGPT Partnership: On December 19, the company introduced a feature enabling users to generate grocery orders directly from recipes found within OpenAI's ChatGPT. Orders are routed to partners like Kroger or Safeway, with the final checkout completed in the DoorDash app—a clear strategy to capture and retain customers at the point of inspiration.
• "Zesty" Discovery App: DoorDash also initiated a pilot for "Zesty," a standalone AI application designed for in-person restaurant recommendations. Currently testing in New York and San Francisco, this app positions the company as a potential competitor to discovery platforms like Yelp.

Market Context and Competitive Landscape

The timing of these announcements is strategic. DoorDash is engaged in intense competition with Instacart for a larger share of the expanding online grocery market, which already accounts for roughly 17% of DoorDash's total revenue. The ChatGPT integration is a direct attempt to engage customers earlier in their decision-making process. The market has responded favorably to these initiatives, with the company's shares recently demonstrating more resilience than the broader restaurant sector.

From a financial standpoint, DoorDash maintains a solid foundation. For the third quarter of 2025, the company reported revenue of $3.45 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 27.3%. Despite this strength, the stock currently trades approximately 15% below its 52-week high reached in October, suggesting potential room for recovery if its growth narrative continues to resonate.

Focus Shifts to User Adoption and Forthcoming Results

Investor attention will now turn to the adoption rates of the new ChatGPT feature as it transitions from testing to a full public rollout in the coming weeks. Similarly, the performance of the "Zesty" pilot will serve as a key indicator of whether DoorDash can successfully monetize the restaurant discovery segment. The next significant milestone will be the fourth-quarter earnings report, which will provide the first financial glimpse into the impact of these AI investments.