Perplexity says its AI personal shopper ‘puts you first’
SMRTR summary
A chatbot that remembers you asked about ferry commute jackets will now suggest matching boots for your next shopping query. Perplexity has launched its AI-powered shopping assistant for US users, joining the holiday season arms race alongside OpenAI and Google. The service lets shoppers type questions, refine results through follow-up conversations, and purchase directly through PayPal partnerships.
Unlike traditional search bars that "fail at exploration," Perplexity's assistant displays product recommendations as cards complete with specifications and reviews. The company positions itself as an antidote to what it calls speed-obsessed online retail that ignores "the joy" of shopping, while also taking aim at editorial outlets that "prioritize affiliate revenue over matching readers to the exact products they'll love."
Available now on desktop and web browsers, mobile access will roll out in coming weeks. Perplexity says its approach keeps merchants in the retail relationship loop, potentially solving what some describe as "the DoorDash problem" where platforms separate businesses from their customers.
SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to The Verge.
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