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Re:Basically no one is using AI agents for their DoorDash or... by Zigurd on Wednesday November 04, 2026 @03:57PM (#50371406)
When I have demoed the use of agents, I usually do it with an agent combining multiple applications' results. Something like: "We're having a family gathering at grandma's. Which of us can stop in at the drugstore to pick up her prescriptions on the way without adding a lot to our travel time?"

Agents are great at moderately complex combinations of data and apps. If I had to do this every day or every week even, it might be worth creating a script suited for a task like that using some automation system. Agents are great at providing a disposable saw when it doesn't make sense to stop and sharpen the saw.

I'm not a doorDash user, but they've been doing it long enough to have an app that's probably highly polished. There's not going to be a lot of upside to speaking or typing an English language command to get what you want. Trying to do that is a waste of a well designed app and the agent's token budget.

Re:Basically no one is using AI agents for their DoorDash or... by Ekaros on Wednesday November 04, 2026 @03:59PM (#50371434)
I would be extremely cross if I heard that someone gave my location information to some company that runs this stuff. That level of privacy violation should lead to disinheritance.
Re:Basically no one is using AI agents for their DoorDash or... by Zigurd on Wednesday November 04, 2026 @04:08PM (#50371548)
What do you use for a contact list?
Re:Basically no one is using AI agents for their DoorDash or... by wilg on Wednesday November 04, 2026 @04:12PM (#50371602)
You don't think your grandmas and your families addresses are public information? I have bad news for you!
Re:Basically no one is using AI agents for their DoorDash or... by LeafItAlone on Wednesday November 04, 2026 @06:51PM (#50373066)
Well, let me tell you that you should be extremely cross. Unless nobody knows your address or you’ve signed up for any services, these companies already have your information.
Re:Basically no one is using AI agents for their DoorDash or... by Rabbit504030201 on Wednesday November 04, 2026 @04:07PM (#50371543)
The example you listed can be solved with a map lookup, a paper map even.
Re:Basically no one is using AI agents for their DoorDash or... by beepbooptheory on Wednesday November 04, 2026 @11:40PM (#50375264)
[delayed]
Re:Basically no one is using AI agents for their DoorDash or... by Zigurd on Thursday November 05, 2026 @08:21AM (#50378775)
I should've provided more detail. The demo is really about a new app that uses AppFunctions to enable Google's agent to use data about a family group, and coordinate their actions mostly around taking care of an elderly family member.

The purpose of the demo is to show that you Instead it's better to enable agents to access relevant data and actions in a controlled way then it is to do app specific integrations with, for example, a map and navigation app in order to plan group gatherings. Instead it's better to enable agents to access relevant data in a controlled way, and to leave coordination across apps to the agent.

In fewer words: if working with another app could be valuable, leave it up to the agent instead of doing the integration at the app level.