As the holidays approach, major AI companies are demonstrating how to use artificial intelligence to guide users to purchase specific products and directly to retailers. AI startup Perplexity has launched a free AI shopping assistant for US users, using artificial intelligence to optimize the shopping experience.
Users only need to enter their shopping needs, and then can further refine the filtered results by asking questions. The products recommended by the system are displayed in the form of cards, including detailed specifications and user reviews, and it supports direct orders through PayPal on the Perplexity platform to purchase merchant products that support this payment channel.
If you once asked the AI about a coat for commuting, and then inquire about related products (such as commuting boots) again in the future, the Perplexity intelligent assistant will remember your previous needs and optimize the new round of recommendations. The feature is now available on desktop and web, and mobile apps for iOS and Android will be launched "within weeks."
Perplexity announced that it has reached an "instant purchase" cooperation with PayPal, allowing merchants to retain direct contact with consumers and build relationships as if users are still shopping on the brand's own website.
In its announcement, Perplexity criticized the traditional search bar as "difficult to explore" and also pointed out that many editorial recommendation platforms provide affiliate commissions while ignoring consumers' true interests and matches. The company emphasized that the existing online shopping model focuses on "quick checkout" and ignores the "fun of shopping." Different from this, Perplexity claims that its AI assistant (or "intelligent agent") can not only understand user intentions and remember preferences, but also act as a powerful assistant for users to complete tasks, making the shopping process closer to the user's real needs and habits.