The AI Podcast Why DoorDash Thinks AI Social Apps Drive Engagement
Dec 17, 2025
Discover Zesty, an AI-powered app by DoorDash that revolutionizes restaurant discovery with personalized recommendations. It combines social features like user photos and comments, enhancing engagement. The app pulls data from TikTok, Google Maps, and more to tailor suggestions. Jaeden discusses whether users will choose Zesty over established platforms for a more streamlined experience. Plus, potential monetization strategies through ads and promotions are explored, highlighting DoorDash's shift toward a broader digital strategy.
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AI-Powered Local Discovery
- DoorDash launched Zesty as an AI-driven, social discovery app focused on finding restaurants.
- The app combines DoorDash data with Google Maps, TikTok, and web scraping to personalize recommendations.
Prototype Quickly With AI
- Experiment now with AI and code models to rapidly prototype product ideas.
- Use AI to breathe new life into existing products and capture market share quickly.
Natural Language Cuts Search Time
- Zesty uses natural language chat to accept nuanced requests like "low key dinner in Williamsburg good for introverts."
- This makes searching faster than hopping between Google, TikTok, and menus for specific vibes and constraints.