JAKARTA, April 9, 2026, 20:45 WIB
Grab Holdings is ramping up its push into artificial intelligence, aiming to keep its ride-hailing and delivery services within reach for cost-conscious consumers. CEO Anthony Tan, speaking in Jakarta, pointed to a slate of new tech—13 products in total—rolled out at GrabX that he expects will blunt the impact of rising fuel expenses. One highlight: “Group Ride,” a feature Grab says can slash fares by as much as 40% for passengers sharing similar routes. Reuters
That question is front and center now, with Grab still working to shore up investor confidence following its muted 2026 guidance. Back in February, the Singapore-based firm projected revenue between $4.04 billion and $4.10 billion, plus adjusted EBITDA—core operating profit—of $700 million to $720 million. Both figures landed short of what analysts were looking for, despite Grab notching its first full-year net profit. Reuters
Speaking to Reuters, Tan called the AI-driven approach “paying off,” while noting, “the fuel cost situation is real for everyone.” He framed the move as a buffer for demand, with households tightening their wallets. Back in February, CFO Peter Oey pledged Grab would “continue to make our rides affordable” and pointed to groceries as the faster grower—1.7 times the rate of food delivery, according to him. Reuters
Grab’s Jakarta rollout wasn’t just about making rides cheaper. The company introduced features like travel reminders, restaurant and shopping helpers, live maps with parking and EV charging spots, plus merchant upgrades including a virtual store manager, a cloud printer, and a driver-focused AI assistant. “AI should work the hardest for the people who need it most,” Chief Product Officer Philipp Kandal said. Grab hasn’t revealed its spending on the initiative. Grab
Grab says its products tap into what it calls the “Grab Intelligence Layer”, which draws on data from 20 billion rides and orders. According to the company, 200,000 early-access users have influenced over 4,000 feature tweaks so far. The timeline for public rollout? That’s still tied to partner readiness, licensing, and regulatory sign-off, with timing shifting by market. Grab
The AI initiative ties into a broader strategy. Back in February, President and COO Alex Hungate called reinvesting in Southeast Asia the “first and best” use of cash—despite Grab’s small moves into overseas markets. Targets? He put revenue growth at above 20% a year for the next three years, with EBITDA projected to hit $1.5 billion by 2028. Reuters
Back in March, Grab struck a deal to acquire Delivery Hero’s Foodpanda Taiwan unit for $600 million cash—pending regulatory signoff. If it goes through, Grab gets its inaugural foothold beyond Southeast Asia, and management projects a contribution of at least $60 million to adjusted EBITDA by 2028. Reuters
Still, the risks are hard to ignore. Back in January, Reuters flagged that Indonesia was mulling a draft decree that might slash commission caps and require ride-hailing platforms to shell out more for driver insurance—a move that’s ramped up scrutiny of Grab and GoTo, both already under the microscope amid talk of a potential merger. Huatai Securities, for its part, pointed to the possibility that stepped-up AI and autonomous-vehicle spending could drag on profits if user growth stalls or macro conditions turn sour. Reuters
Grab’s U.S. shares edged up just 0.1% to $3.64 early Thursday, barely budging after a near 30% slide since the start of the year.
