AI has changed the way we search for things online. This is thanks to its understanding of natural language which allows us to ask more detailed questions and follow up questions. And now, it looks like AI wants to change the way we shop. Perplexity has recently announced a new AI tool in the form of a shopping assistant.
If this Perplexity feature sounds familiar, it is because it wasn’t too long ago that OpenAI’s ChatGPT announced its own AI shopping assistant. In Perplexity’s case, the feature is similar in concept. Users can ask Perplexity questions related to them and their needs. For example, if you’re a beginner photographer with a small budget, you can ask Perplexity to recommend cameras that are beginner and budget-friendly.
Once Perplexity has found products that it thinks suits you, it will present it in nicely formatted product cards. It will show users the pros and cons of each product, along with other relevant details. This information is pulled from reviews and guides, so instead of users having to comb through dozens of websites and forums, Perplexity takes all that information and consolidates it for them.
According to the company, “Perplexity remembers your past searches and learns your patterns, so when you ask about a desk lamp today, it finds options that match your mid-century modern aesthetic, not what advertisers want to sell first. If you’ve been looking at minimalist running shoes for an upcoming marathon, it prioritizes simplicity when you buy a new bag before race day.”
Not just for browsing, but buying too
So, if you found something that you like that Perplexity recommends, you can buy it directly via the company’s assistant. Perplexity is also leveraging its partnership with PayPal. This means that if you have a linked PayPal account, you can pay for it directly without having to log in again. Of course, this assumes that the merchant accepts PayPal as one of the payment methods.
That being said, at the end of the day you should still do your own research. Tools like Perplexity and ChatGPT are great for consolidating information. However, whether its information is accurate is sometimes questionable. Hallucination is a known AI problem, but it’s still a pretty good place to start.
