If you’ve ever grappled with the feeling of overwhelm while shopping, Perplexity is here to change the game. With the holidays on the horizon, there are all kinds of pressures and demands we face, especially when it comes to present shopping. Perplexity plans to ease that burden with its latest rollout: an AI-powered shopping feature available to US-based users. Just in time for the season of giving.
Perplexity’s AI assistant is similar to what we’ve seen by the likes of OpenAI and Google. Here’s how it works: you type in what you require, and based on your input, the AI provides a host of recommendations. Follow-up questions help to refine the search, narrowing down the options to best suit your needs. The proposed products are showcased as cards detailing their specifications and reviews. The best part? Users can directly purchase through Perplexity from any merchant that supports PayPal. Convenience at its finest.
The tech isn’t just about providing a personalised shopping experience; it goes a step beyond. Perplexity’s AI assistant has an impressive memory. For instance, if you once asked for a jacket appropriate for a Bay to San Francisco ferry commute, the chatbot remembers this small detail. When you later seek out boots, the bot factors in this past interaction to create a more tailored recommendation. Considering the unpredictable Bay weather, you might get a suggestion for waterproof boots.
Initially, this exciting shopping feature is available on desktop and web platforms. However, mobile access is set to follow in the succeeding weeks. So, whether you’re lounging at home or on-the-go, your personal shopping assistant will execute tasks on your behalf smoothly and effortlessly.
The collaboration with PayPal, affectionately called the “Instant Buy” partnership by Perplexity, ensures that retailers remain in the loop. It facilitates the upholding of relationships with customers as smoothly as if interactions were happening on their platforms, a savvy strategy to counter the notorious “DoorDash problem.”
How we shop has drastically transformed, especially in the digital age. Yet, Perplexity believes there’s still work to be done. It challenges convention, pointing out how search bars do not cater to exploration and editorials tend to prioritize affiliate revenue over customer satisfaction. Perplexity confesses that online shopping is sped up, often forgetting the joy and adventure of unravelling the perfect find. Staying true to its name, Perplexity has taken up the task of disrupting AI shopping by introducing assistants that understand user intent, remember peculiar preferences, and act indistinguishable from how users would work a task. While this shopping tour de force ramps up, we will eagerly await reports on its success and user experience.
Original Article: The Verge
