Perplexity, an AI-focused search platform, is now offering a free AI shopping assistant to US users, positioning itself as an alternative to traditional search and affiliate-driven recommendations. The tool functions similarly to shopping features in ChatGPT and Google’s AI offerings, allowing users to refine product searches through conversational follow-up questions.
How It Works: Personalized Recommendations and Direct Purchasing
The AI assistant provides product suggestions displayed as informative cards with specifications and user reviews. Crucially, Perplexity enables direct purchases through integrated PayPal support, allowing merchants to process transactions as they would on their own websites. This feature addresses concerns about AI shopping platforms cutting retailers out of direct customer relationships – a dynamic described by tech journalist Nilay Patel as “the DoorDash problem.”
Memory and Context: Beyond One-Off Searches
Perplexity’s system is designed to remember user preferences across multiple sessions. For example, if a user inquires about a jacket suitable for a ferry commute, the AI will retain this context when later asked for appropriate footwear. This conversational memory distinguishes it from basic keyword-based searches. Mobile access via iOS and Android is expected within weeks.
A Critique of Existing Shopping Methods
The company frames its shopping assistant as a response to perceived shortcomings in current online retail experiences. Perplexity argues that traditional search engines fail to facilitate exploratory shopping, and that many editorial outlets prioritize affiliate commissions over genuine product matching. The platform emphasizes a focus on “joyful” discovery rather than simply speeding up checkout processes.
Perplexity aims to create AI assistants that “understand intent, remember preferences, and act as extensions of how users would approach a task on their own.”
This approach suggests a shift toward more personalized and context-aware shopping experiences, potentially reshaping how consumers interact with online retail.
