A startup offered free pizza if its AI agent ordered it. Chaos ensued.

A startup offered free pizza on Friday in exchange for letting its AI agent handle the ordering. After multiple attempts, I ended up with a $30 DoorDash credit, no pizza and an empty stomach.Why it matters: AI agents promise to take everyday tasks off our plates, but they still have to clear a basic hurdle: Making a task easier than doing it ourselves.Driving the news: AI startup Hark offered $30 in DoorDash credit as part of a promotion designed to showcase its agent's ability to order food.The company advertised a $1 million giveaway, encouraging users to download Hark Pro, connect their accounts and ask the agent to order a pizza.The promotion helped propel Hark to No. 1 in the Lifestyle category of Apple's App Store, according to a screenshot shared by CEO Brett Adcock.Hark says it ultimately delivered nearly 20,000 pizzas, despite technical problems caused by overwhelming demand.The catch: A number of customers reported experiences that were considerably less appetizing.Investor Sheel Mohnot said ordering took him 20 minutes, calling the promotion a failure even though he otherwise likes Hark.Another user reported that the agent placed an order despite the promotional credit …

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