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Order Christmas cookie ingredients on Instacart inside ChatGPT

WorkedEvidence: Article or interviewPosted Last checked

ZDNET's Elyse Betters Picaro gave ChatGPT a cookie recipe link and went from Instacart cart to paid delivery in about two minutes.

How to use this

  1. Tap Copy prompt.
  2. Open ChatGPT.
  3. Paste it into the message box.
  4. Replace anything in [CAPITAL LETTERS IN BRACKETS] with your own details.
  5. Send it, then read the answer before acting on it.
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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

Improved prompt

Our fuller version of the source's prompt, with fill-in details and rules, or one written to avoid what went wrong. Not tested by the poster.

What the prompt labels mean

Our fuller version of the person's prompt. They didn't use this version, and we haven't tested 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: Turn a recipe into a grocery delivery order at my local store, and stop for my OK before paying.

Questions to ask me first:
- Which store should you shop at?
- Which recipe, and how many batches?
- Exact recipe amounts or standard package sizes?

Inputs (fill in or confirm):
- Recipe link or text: [RECIPE]
- Store: [STORE NAME AND TOWN]
- Batches: [NUMBER]
- Items I already have: [PANTRY ITEMS]
- Delivery window and tip: [WINDOW / TIP]

Rules:
- Use only items from my chosen store.
- Skip what I already have.
- Ask before swapping any out-of-stock item.
- Don't pay or place the order without my OK.

Checkpoint: Show me the full cart with prices and the total, and wait for my OK before checkout.

If you get stuck: If the store or an item isn't available, tell me and suggest the closest option instead of guessing.

Verify before you finish: Check every recipe ingredient is either in the cart or on my already-have list.

Output: The cart, the total with fees and tip, and the delivery window.

Done when: My order is ready to confirm, and nothing from the recipe is missing.

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The prompt they actually used

The exact prompt from the source.

Instacart, can you help me shop for Christmas cookie ingredients?

AI tool

ChatGPT

Outcome

Elyse Betters Picaro of ZDNET lives rurally with few store options, so Picaro tried the Instacart app inside ChatGPT to shop for Danish butter cookie ingredients at a local Price Chopper. ChatGPT first suggested common baking items, then Picaro gave it a link to a favorite bookmarked recipe. It parsed the recipe and asked whether to match exact amounts or use standard sizes, such as 1 lb of butter; Picaro chose standard sizes. The cart filled automatically, and checkout happened in the chat through Instant Checkout, powered by Stripe, including the tip and delivery window. The whole process, from recipe to checkout, took about two minutes in one conversation, and Picaro paid and scheduled delivery.

Evidence: Article or interviewA newsletter, journalist or interview account of what happened.

Source

Posted
by Elyse Betters Picaro (ZDNET via Yahoo Tech)
Last checked
Method:
How we verify

https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/chatgpt/articles/just-ordered-instacart-delivery-chatgpt-172100751.html

Context: Original prompt: Picaro's opening request, quoted in the article; the recipe link and size choices came in follow-ups. Improved prompt: our fuller version, not tested. Instacart in ChatGPT depends on which stores serve your area.

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