Southeast Asian super app Grab is gearing up to deploy AI-powered delivery robots "very soon," as announced by Co-founder and Group CEO Anthony Tan at the company's annual product event, GrabX 2026. The move signals a major step in Grab's broader push to integrate artificial intelligence across its platform.
The robot, named "Carri," is designed to assist delivery drivers, not replace them, by helping pick up meal orders from restaurants more efficiently. Tan explained that the goal is to cut down on idle time and allow drivers to take on more jobs throughout their shift.
According to Tan, drivers currently lose around 10% of their earning time navigating malls or waiting for customers at office buildings. Carri is built to handle that waiting period, locating the restaurant and passing the order directly to the driver.
Alongside Carri, Grab unveiled 13 AI-powered features at GrabX 2026, spanning services for consumers, travelers, merchants, and drivers. These include Group Ride for shared fare savings, GrabMore for multi-merchant deliveries under one fee, an AI Shopping Agent, and a Driver AI Assistant, among others.
Tan emphasized Grab's intent to make AI accessible to everyone on its platform, saying the company wants to help as many people as possible ride the AI wave rather than be left behind by it. Separately, Barclays has projected that robots and drones could eventually bring food delivery costs down to as little as $1 per order.
