Compare six AI agents building a takeout lunch cart for a vegan boss

PartialEvidence: Described by posterPosted Oct 27, 2026Last checked Nov 3, 2026

WIRED had six agents build a lunch cart; ChatGPT Dots won at $30.57, but Gemini Spark failed with one spring roll.

Source checked Nov 3, 2026
Results shared
Limitations noted

How to use this

Tap Copy prompt.
Open the tool the case used (or a similar one) and paste the prompt; results may differ from the original.
Paste it into the message box.
Send it, then read the answer before acting on it.

New to this? What's a prompt?

A prompt is the message you send to the AI tool. Copy the one on this page, put your own details where it asks, and read the answer before you act on it.

Prompt

Recreated prompt

The source didn't share its exact prompt, so we wrote one from what it describes. The result shown is the source's, not ours.

What the prompt labels mean

The person didn't share their exact words, so we wrote this from what they described. We haven't tested it, and they didn't use this exact version.

Plan a takeout lunch for me and my boss from somewhere close to my office so I can pick it up. My boss is vegan and craving Vietnamese food; I want something meaty and a strong coffee. Build the cart and tell me the total before tax and fees.

Try this in:

ChatGPT Used in source Gemini Used in source Grok Used in source Claude

Sends the Recreated prompt shown above. ChatGPT and Grok open with it filled in, and ChatGPT may send it straight away. Gemini and Claude open empty, so we copy the prompt for you to paste. Every button also copies it.

Opens in a new tab. We don't see what you send.

These links are only a shortcut. We're not affiliated with OpenAI, Google, Anthropic or xAI, and your results may not match the source.

Optional stronger version

Our rewrite with extra checks. The poster didn't test it.

Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about the details below and wait for my answers. Once I've answered, confirm the plan in one line and run the whole task start to finish.

Goal: Build a pickup lunch order for two people with different diets from a nearby restaurant, at a sensible price.

Questions to ask me first:
- What's the pickup address, and how far are you willing to walk?
- What does each person want, and are there any dietary rules?
- Is there a budget, and should I order through the restaurant directly or an app?

Inputs (fill in or confirm):
- Pickup location: [ADDRESS]
- Person 1 wants: [ORDER IDEAS]
- Person 2 wants and diet: [FOR EXAMPLE VEGAN, VIETNAMESE]
- Budget: [AMOUNT]
- Ordering method: [RESTAURANT WEBSITE / DOORDASH / UBER EATS]

Rules:
- Pick a place within walking distance that's open now.
- Give each person a full lunch, not a snack.
- Check every item against the dietary rules, including sauces.
- Compare the restaurant's own website with delivery apps and pick the cheaper option.
- Don't place the order until I approve it.

Checkpoint: Show me the cart with each item, its price and the subtotal before you check out.

If you get stuck: If an item's ingredients are unclear, choose a safe option or ask me instead of guessing.

Verify before you finish: Confirm each dish fits the diet and the total stays within the budget.

Output: The restaurant, the ordering method, each person's items with prices, and the subtotal before tax and fees.

Done when: I approve the cart and the order is ready for pickup.

AI tools

ChatGPT Dots Muse Grok Bot Claude Duet Instinct Gemini Spark

Outcome

Reece Rogers of WIRED asked six always-on AI agents to plan a takeout lunch near the WIRED office for Rogers (something meaty plus strong coffee) and a vegan boss craving Vietnamese food, and committed to ordering from the best cart. All six picked one of two nearby Vietnamese spots, DragonEats or Freshroll. ChatGPT Dots scored 5/5 and was the cart Rogers actually ordered: a roast pork bánh mì and iced coffee plus teriyaki tofu fresh rolls with soy sauce instead of fish sauce, ordered through the restaurant's website for a $30.57 subtotal. Muse (4/5) built a similar DragonEats cart on DoorDash for $42.66, and Grok Bot (4/5) built a Freshroll cart for $43.40. Claude Duet (3/5) came to $49.25 through Uber Eats, and Instinct (2/5) built a similar cart for $53.73. Gemini Spark (1/5) added only a single $5.85 spring roll for the boss, which Rogers called more of a snack than lunch.

Evidence: Described by posterThe person describes what happened in words, without screenshots or video.

Known limitations

PartialThe source says it only partly worked, or had a significant problem a person had to deal with.

What went wrong: Five agents built usable carts, though prices ranged from $30.57 to $53.73; Gemini Spark failed by adding only one spring roll.

Source

Posted: Oct 27, 2026 by Reece Rogers (WIRED)
Last checked: Nov 3, 2026
Method:: How we verify

https://www.wired.com/story/i-tested-every-major-ai-agent-for-a-day-heres-the-best-one/

Context: The exact prompt isn't quoted, so the prompt here is recreated. The scores are the writer's own ratings, and only the ChatGPT Dots cart was actually ordered. The same article also tested calendar conflicts, which is a separate case.