Kenyan Commuters Can Now Request Bolt Rides Through ChatGPT Conversations

Bolt has launched a ChatGPT integration in Kenya that allows commuters to request rides, check fares and manage journeys through a conversation instead of navigating the traditional app interface.

The new feature enables passengers to ask for fare estimates, compare routes and monitor driver arrival times within a chat. By using details shared during the conversation, the AI can suggest suitable pickup locations to help reduce delays and improve the booking experience in busy areas. After a journey is confirmed, the request is transferred to the Bolt app for dispatch and trip management.

The integration reflects a wider shift in the transport and travel sectors, where artificial intelligence is becoming a more common way for users to access services. Accenture research published in 2025 found that 80% of travellers globally use AI tools, while more than half are comfortable allowing automated systems to manage complete travel plans. 

Bolt’s Regional Director of Rides Operations for Africa and South East Asia, Caroline Wanjihia, said the company believes ride requests should become as simple as other everyday interactions with AI.

“People don’t plan their evening in five different apps anymore. A lot of that planning happens in one conversation with AI now. As more everyday interactions take place through AI, we think requesting a ride should be just as straightforward: ask, see the price, and go,” Wanjihia said.

Bolt operates across more than 850 cities in 50 countries, serving over 200 million customers through a network of 4.5 million drivers. The company said payments for rides will continue to be completed through the Bolt app for now, but it plans to introduce in-chat payments later this year.