Search and chat provider Perplexity AI has announced a new shopping assistant with the potential to disrupt e-commerce marketing, advertising, and search engine optimization.
Perplexity’s “Purchase at Pro” feature combines product research with one-click checkout and free shipping to make online shopping easier for U.S. consumers without having to leave the website or app to complete their purchase.
The feature also includes “Snap to Shop,” a visual shopping tool similar to Google Lens. Pro subscribers can take a photo of a product and have Perplexity provide it to them.
Perplexity’s AI can also customize recommendations and direct shoppers to specific products.
“When you ask Perplexity a shopping question, you not only get the accurate, objective answers you expect, but also easy-to-read product cards that show you the most relevant products and key details in a simple, visual format. “These cards are not sponsored. They are unbiased recommendations tailored to our AI searches,” the company said in a statement.
Perplexity Pro subscribers can ask purchasing questions and receive research and product recommendations.
merchant program
Perplexity’s Shopping Assistant is integrated with Shopify, giving you “access to the latest and relevant information about products across Shopify-powered businesses around the world that sell and ship to the US.”
Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke is an investor in Perplexity, as is Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
In addition to the Shopify connection, Perplexity has invited “large” retailers. Participate in the merchant program. Selected retail partners will have greater visibility into Perplexity’s product recommendations and access to this new channel’s dashboard. There is no cost to apply or participate. Simply fill out a five-question type form that requests contact information and the seller’s URL.
Perplexity’s five-question merchant application did not request any sales details.
Perplexity’s shopping assistant may make it easier for consumers to buy online, but it will require an inevitable assortment of similar products. AI-powered tools It can complicate your existing e-commerce business.
We’ve found seven concerns that small and medium-sized e-commerce businesses should consider if tools like Perplexity’s Shopping Assistant become popular.
Seller’s concerns
Relationship with customers. With Perplexity’s shopping AI, consumers never leave their search environment or visit a merchant’s online store. Build and maintain without direct involvement brand loyalty becomes even more difficult.
Product Visibility. E-commerce shops are accustomed to familiar channels such as: advertisement, SEOand social media To attract shoppers. Each of these has its challenges, but they are known. With Perplexity and similar AI assistants, products from large retailers and shops with robust data integration will be preferred over small and medium-sized e-commerce businesses.
price pressure. While one might expect an AI shopping assistant to consider seller reviews and reputation, the assistant will likely focus on price and force small businesses to compete. Many sellers have made similar complaints about online marketplaces, but AI could be even worse.
dependence. As one-click shopping with AI search becomes a common feature, online sellers, especially small and medium-sized businesses, may become more dependent on AI platforms for sales and face significant challenges if the platforms’ policies or algorithms change. There is a risk of being affected.
Promotion. Merchants often use marketing and advertising to drive e-commerce sales, but with the addition of various AI shopping assistants, reaching customers can become much more complex. Marketing teams may need to: Optimize your data feed Stay competitive by supporting several AI platforms and advertising on dozens of new AI channels.
Fluctuations in demand. AI recommendations can cause sudden, if not impossible, spikes in demand. Items may suddenly sell out in stores. Once you run out of inventory, your shop will no longer be considered and sales may slow to recover.
Technical barriers. Perplexity says it wants to make it easier for stores to provide product data. However, as AI shopping assistants become more prevalent, stores, especially smaller stores, may face data optimization and integration challenges.
opportunity
Assuming the company’s shopping assistant represents a trend, Perplexity could be similar to similar marketplaces like Amazon, Temu, and Mercari, and present an opportunity.
Product Visibility. Perplexity’s Shopify integration could level the field and allow small to midsize stores to compete with large retailers. Increased awareness can lead to increased sales without additional advertising costs.
There are no fees. Perplexity Shopping Assistant is free for sellers. Compared to other marketplaces (paid), integration with Perplexity and similar tools can increase seller profits.
next step
AI shopping assistants such as Perplexity pose challenges and opportunities for merchants. To participate:
- Apply to Perplexity’s Seller Program to find similar providers.
- Start optimizing and differentiating your product data and ensure it’s complete, accurate, and unique.
- Add a product feed to an existing marketplace. AI assistants may work with existing product data tools.
- Pay attention to AI shopping news.
