AI Won’t Replace Swiggy, Zomato or MakeMyTrip Anytime Soon, Says BofA

Bank of America (BofA) believes that while AI assistants are becoming increasingly capable of handling tasks such as food ordering, travel bookings, and online shopping, they are unlikely to replace specialist apps like $SWIGGY, $ETERNAL and MakeMyTrip in India anytime soon. The brokerage noted that India's digital ecosystem has historically favored dedicated apps over "super apps," with consumers preferring specialized platforms for different services. According to BofA, India has the necessary ingredients for wider AI adoption, including affordable internet, a large digital user base, and growing use of large language models. However, the firm believes consumer habits evolve slowly, making it too early to expect agentic AI to become the primary interface for everyday transactions. Instead, AI is likely to complement existing platforms by improving customer service, personalization, and search rather than replacing them outright. Industry & Economic Impact: The report suggests that India's internet companies are well-positioned to retain their market leadership despite rapid advances in AI. Companies such as Swiggy, Zomato, and MakeMyTrip can benefit by integrating AI into their existing platforms to enhance user experience while leveraging their strong brand recognition, logistics networks, and customer trust. From an economic perspective, AI is expected to improve productivity and operational efficiency across digital businesses rather than disrupt them immediately. Continued AI adoption could accelerate innovation in e-commerce, travel, food delivery, and fintech while preserving healthy competition among specialized platforms. The report reinforces the view that India's digital economy will likely evolve through AI-enabled enhancement of existing businesses rather than a rapid shift to a single AI-driven super app. Source: NDTV Profit No Recommendations