Build Your AI Buyer’s Guide with ChatGPT
▼ Summary
– OpenAI has launched a “shopping research” feature in ChatGPT that helps users with holiday shopping by answering product questions and is available to all users on mobile and web.
– The feature allows users to refine their product preferences through questions based on price, use, and features, similar to retail website filters.
– OpenAI plans to introduce Instant Checkout for direct purchasing within ChatGPT and notes that product details may have errors, advising users to check merchant sites.
– This shopping tool is built on a specialized version of GPT‑5 mini, using up-to-date product data from quality sources and incorporating user memory and feedback options.
– OpenAI is part of a broader trend where companies like Google and Perplexity are also integrating AI-powered shopping features into their platforms.
Finding the perfect gift or upgrading your home electronics just became significantly easier with the latest innovation from OpenAI. ChatGPT’s new “shopping research” feature is now available to all users, offering a powerful tool to navigate the overwhelming number of product choices. This functionality acts as a personal shopper, designed to help you make informed purchasing decisions by asking clarifying questions about your budget, intended use, and desired features.
Imagine you’re looking for a new television that performs well in a brightly lit room. You can simply ask ChatGPT for the “best TVs in bright lighting.” The AI’s response will not only provide suggestions but will also conclude with a prompt asking if you’d like to conduct further research. This interactive process allows you to refine your search through a series of targeted questions, much like using the filter options on a major retail website. It’s important to note, however, that the company advises users to double-check product details directly on merchant sites, as information on pricing and availability provided by the AI might occasionally be inaccurate.
The products recommended through this system can be purchased by visiting the retailers’ websites. Looking ahead, OpenAI has announced plans to introduce an “Instant Checkout” option. This future development will enable direct purchasing within the ChatGPT interface itself for transactions with participating merchants, streamlining the entire shopping journey.
OpenAI is certainly not the only tech giant integrating AI into the consumer shopping experience. Google has recently launched its own AI-powered shopping tools within its AI Mode. Similarly, the AI agent found in Perplexity’s Comet browser can shop on a user’s behalf, a trend that is reshaping how people interact with e-commerce platforms.
Under the hood, this shopping feature is powered by a specialized version of GPT-5 mini, an AI model that has been specifically fine-tuned for retail tasks. It pulls product recommendations from what it deems to be quality online sources, providing current data on prices, availability, customer reviews, specifications, and product images. For a more personalized experience, the system can also consider your previous conversations with ChatGPT if you have the “memory” function enabled. You can further train the AI’s suggestions by using feedback buttons to indicate you’d like to see “more like this” or are “not interested” in a particular item.
For subscribers of the Pro plan, the experience is even more tailored. These users will receive proactively recommended products bundled into “buyer’s guides.” These guides are generated based on an analysis of past chat history. For instance, if your previous conversations have frequently involved discussions about e-bikes, a future recommendation might conveniently suggest useful accessories like helmets or locks, anticipating your needs before you even have to ask.
(Source: The Verge)
