Grab has announced 13 new features at its GrabX 2026 product showcase, positioning its superapp as an “intelligent everyday guide” for users across Southeast Asia. The updates cover mobility, food delivery, travel, payments and merchant tools, and will roll out progressively across markets including Malaysia.
The features are powered by what Grab calls “Grab Intelligence Layer”, an AI infrastructure built on insights from over 20 billion rides and orders, enabling real-time decision-making and automation across its ecosystem.
Chief Product Officer of Grab Philipp Kandal said, “As a product builder, I believe AI should work the hardest for the people who need it most. I’m excited that the products we are launching today at GrabX are like having a smart companion by your side. Whether you’re a consumer who just wants a chatbot to choose your lunch, a merchant who needs to monitor multiple shops remotely, or a driver getting hands-free voice advice — we want the Grab app to be the Everyday Guide that handles the manual tasks, so you can focus on your day.”
GrabX 2026: Here are the 13 new features
Grab has introduced a total of 13 new features that cover consumer, travel and business use cases.
1. Group Ride
Group Ride allows up to four users to share a single vehicle by coordinating multiple pickup and drop-off points within a single trip. Instead of booking separate rides, passengers heading in similar directions can travel together in one vehicle.
Grab says users can save up to 40% on fares compared to travelling alone if riders are on similar routes. Its AI sequences the trip dynamically for efficiency, while each passenger’s fare is calculated based on factors such as distance travelled, traffic conditions and time taken.
2. Grab More
Grab More addresses a common issue when ordering from multiple merchants, where users would typically incur separate delivery fees. With this feature, users can add items from another nearby merchant either before or after checkout without extra delivery fees, minimum order or small order charges.
The feature uses AI to coordinate the logistics behind the scenes so that both orders arrive together, even though they come from different merchants. It aims to make mixed orders more seamless without increasing cost or complexity for users.
3. Grab AI Assistant
Grab’s AI Assistant is designed as a conversational assistant that’s integrated within the app. Users can describe what they want in natural language, such as planning a group meal, and the assistant will then recommend suitable options based on preferences, dietary restrictions and group size.
The assistant can also complete tasks within the same interaction, such as making reservations or suggesting food delivery options. This integration reduces the need to switch between different sections of the app.
For Grab Driver-partners, there’s also Driver AI Assistant. The feature provides real-time guidance and support via voice interaction, including help with tasks such as messaging passengers and navigating Grab’s policies, to help drivers stay focused on the road.
4. Grab Shopping Agent
Meanwhile, the Grab Shopping Agent simplifies grocery and shopping tasks by allowing users to input requests using photos, voice notes or text. Instead of manually searching for items, the system builds a ready-to-checkout cart across multiple merchants.
It also includes smart substitutions, which helps ensure that unavailable items are replaced with suitable alternatives. This reduces the need for manual browsing and making extra adjustments during the checkout process.
5. GrabMaps for Consumers
GrabMaps expands beyond basic navigation by combining journey planning with real-time contextual information. It helps users decide when to leave, how to get there and what to expect upon arrival.
The GrabMaps features include real-time parking availability, EV charger locations, public transport schedules and indoor navigation within malls and buildings. It also integrates with users’ calendars and trip history to suggest destinations and compare travel options such as ride-hailing versus driving.
6. Cash Loan
Cash Loan introduces in-app lending aimed at users with limited or no formal credit history. Eligible users can select a loan amount, customise repayment plans and receive approval decisions within seconds directly in the Grab app
Grab says the feature uses its own data and AI-powered underwriting to assess eligibility, removing the need for paperwork and reducing waiting time for approvals.
7. Personalised Travel Experience
Personalised Travel Experience consolidates travel-related information into a single interface, guiding users from departure to arrival. It includes reminders such as bringing your passport, check-in counter information, boarding gates and flight updates.
The feature also provides a checklist for essentials such as eSIMs and travel passes. Upon arrival, it even offers indoor navigation to help users find baggage belts and ride pickup points more easily.
8. GrabStays
GrabStays is a hotel booking service launched under Grab’s Partner Apps programme. It allows users to search and book for hotel accommodation directly within the Grab ecosystem.
Bookings are streamlined using saved user details and payment methods, with additional benefits such as GrabCoin rewards. Grab says it is designed to support last-minute bookings with competitive same-day rates.
9. Discover by Grab
Discover by Grab focuses on food discovery using community-generated content and AI-driven recommendations. Users can browse, save and share dining suggestions based on what others are recommending.
Once a location is selected, users can take action directly within the same flow, including ordering delivery, booking a table, redeeming deals or arranging transport to the venue.
10. GrabPay for Travel
GrabPay for Travel allows users to make cashless payments overseas using QR codes, even in locations that do not accept credit cards. Payments are processed using existing debit or credit cards already saved in your Grab app.
The feature removes the need to download and maintain a separate local eWallet app, which eliminates leftover foreign currency stored in digital wallets after a trip.
11. Virtual Store Manager
Virtual Store Manager extends Grab’s platform into physical store operations by tapping on a store’s existing CCTV systems. Its AI-powered computer vision analyses store activity, including hygiene standards, staffing levels and operating hours.
It also provides insights such as queue length, foot traffic and conversion rates, while sending alerts to merchants if issues are detected. This allows multi-outlet operators to monitor performance remotely without being on-site.
12. Cloud Printer
Cloud Printer automates the order flow between front-of-house and kitchen operations. Orders are printed automatically as soon as they are received, which reduces the risk of missed or delayed orders.
Kitchen staff can scan QR codes on printed tickets to trigger pickup readiness, while the system can also pause the store automatically if no activity is detected for a set period.
13. Tap to Pay
Grab also introduces Tap to Pay, a new feature that enables merchants to accept contactless payments directly on their smartphones. It supports both credit/debit card and QR payments within the GrabMerchant app.
Grab says the feature reduces setup complexity and allows merchants to start accepting payments quickly without additional card payment terminal or onboarding requirements.
Grab to roll out features progressively through 2026
Grab says the availability of these features are subject to regulatory approvals, licensing and partner readiness.
The Group Ride, Grab More, GrabMaps for Consumers and Driver AI Assistant are already available for the Malaysian market. Cash Loan is targeted for launch by mid-2026, while Travel-related features such as Personalised Travel Experience and GrabStays are expected to arrive by the third quarter of 2026.
By the end of the year, Grab AI Assistant, GrabPay for Travel and Tap to Pay are expected to roll out in Malaysia. Discover by Grab is also planned to launch locally by the end of 2026. The Virtual Store Manager offering is currently being piloted in Malaysia.
In addition, GrabX 2026 also marked a new milestone for Grab’s Early Access Programme which now has 200,000 users since its launch last year. The programme allows users to try out new features and provide feedback to help make their products better. The Early Access Programme group has helped to contribute 4,000 feature improvements that have shaped the Grab experience today.
Users can also submit their feedback instantly by simply shaking their phone thanks to its “shake and share” feature.
GrabX 2026: Grab rolls out 13 new AI-powered features for rides, food and travel
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