AI search engines combine the conversational capabilities of chatbots with the web, creating a new, optimized search experience. Despite their proficiency in research, AI search engines fall short in certain areas, such as online shopping. However, Perplexity hopes to change that with this new feature.
Also: The best AI chatbots of 2024: ChatGPT, Copilot, and worthy alternatives
On Monday, Perplexity began rolling out what the company is calling a “first-of-its-kind AI commerce experience” in which users can research products via conversational prompts and image inputs, checkout with one click, and even get free shipping on purchases.
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Perplexity
The biggest difference between a traditional shopping search experience and Perplexity’s shopping assistant is that when you ask a shopping-related question, you get comparisons in everyday language that feature a variety of reviews, “objective” answers, and product cards with the most relevant specs and items, according to the company.
Also: Amazon’s AI Shopping Guides help you find what you need
The items featured on the product cards are not sponsored but are handpicked by AI to match the search prompt. Users also have the option of Snap to Shop, which allows users to take a photo of an item and ask Perplexity to visually find relevant products that match, similar to Google Lens.
The best part is that you can enter conversational prompts, and it will understand your needs. For example, I typed in, “I want cute pink shoes for a ski trip I am going to,” and Perplexity understood that what I was asking for was actually ski boots and showed me relevant options with subtitles explaining which is a good fit and why.
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Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
To access the above experience, I just had to visit the Perplexity website and didn’t even have to log in, sign up, or subscribe. However, some of the more advanced features, like Buy with Pro, come at a cost, retailing at $20 per month.
Using Buy with Pro, consumers can checkout with one click, requiring users to save their shipping and billing information just once. Other benefits of Perplexity Pro include access to at least 300 Pro Searches a day, a more robust search experience, access to the most popular and advanced AI models, including GPT-4o and Claude 3 Sonnet and Opus; API credit; and file analysis.
Although the subscription may seem steep, it does guarantee free shipping on all Buy with Pro purchases, which may help you get your money’s worth quickly. If Buy with Pro isn’t available, users will be redirected to the merchant’s website to complete the purchase.
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Perplexity shares that the shopping experience is powered by multiple partners, including Shopify, which provides Perplexity with the latest product information. Additionally, the company is introducing a free Perplexity Merchant Program, which allows merchants to share their product specs for the latest live details in the experience. Signing up is as easy as filling out the form.
