Key Points
- Perplexity launches a free AI shopping assistant for U.S. users.
- Integrated with PayPal for instant, in‑assistant purchases.
- Assistant provides context‑aware product recommendations.
- Merchants keep full customer visibility and post‑purchase control.
- Feature mirrors similar AI shopping tools from OpenAI and Google.
- Amazon issued a cease‑and‑desist over Perplexity’s Amazon purchase capability.
AI‑Driven Shopping Experience
Perplexity is rolling out a new shopping feature that makes buying items through its AI assistant easier and more personalized. The service is available at no cost to all Perplexity users in the United States and builds on the company’s existing partnership with PayPal.
Users can ask detailed, context‑aware questions such as, “What’s the best winter jacket if I live in San Francisco and take a ferry to work?” The assistant keeps the conversation context in mind, using known preferences and lifestyle details to generate tailored product suggestions.
Product Presentation and Instant Purchase
When the assistant identifies suitable items, it displays them in formatted product cards that include pros, cons, and relevant details drawn from reviews and guides. If a product looks right, users can complete the purchase instantly through the assistant, with payment processed via PayPal. This “Instant Buy” experience works with any merchant that accepts PayPal.
Merchant Benefits and Ownership
Perplexity emphasizes that merchants retain full visibility into who their customers are, can handle returns, build loyalty, and own the post‑purchase relationship—much as they would on their own websites. The AI platform functions as a referral tool, aiming to generate fees or commissions when a purchase is made.
Industry Context and Competition
The move aligns Perplexity with recent AI shopping initiatives from OpenAI’s ChatGPT shopping research feature and Google’s AI‑enhanced product recommendations. All these tools are positioned as personalized alternatives to traditional editorial shopping guides.
Legal Pushback
At the beginning of November, Perplexity received a cease‑and‑desist notice from Amazon after its Comet browser allowed the AI agent to complete Amazon purchases on users’ behalf.
Source: engadget.com