OpenAI and Perplexity have launched AI-driven shopping assistants ahead of the holiday season, enhancing their chat platforms with retail features to aid users in making informed purchase decisions. Both tools enable users to request specific products, such as a gaming laptop under $1,000, or upload images for more affordable suggestions. Perplexity personalizes searches using its chatbot’s memory, offering tailored recommendations based on user details like location. Adobe predicts a 520% rise in AI-assisted online shopping this festive period, posing competitive challenges for smaller startups like Phia and Onton. Industry leaders emphasize that specialized AI models outperform general ones, as they require domain-specific datasets for nuanced understanding, particularly in fashion. OpenAI and Perplexity leverage existing user bases and partnerships with major retailers, integrating services like Shopify and PayPal for seamless purchases. However, concerns about maintaining quality and user experience persist as they explore sustainable revenue models within the e-commerce sector.
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