Key Highlights:
- Meta is currently testing its AI Shopping Assistant in the US for select desktop users.
- If given access to your information, including gender and location, Meta AI can offer personalized shopping recommendations just for you.
- The AI assistant does not allow direct checkout, but users can follow provided links to purchase recommended products.
Earlier this year, during its earnings call, Mark Zuckerberg told investors that the company will gradually start rolling out new AI products and possibly the rumored Avocado model down the line. Well, it seems Meta has started testing at least one of the AI features, and it has to do with streamlining users’ shopping experience.
Meta’s new AI Shopping Research tool offers personalized product suggestions
To catch you up, last year, OpenAI released its AI Shopping Research tool inside ChatGPT, with Google rolling out similar features within Gemini. That’s not all; Perplexity also jumped onto the trend and unveiled personalized shopping feature. Now, Meta is reportedly taking on all of the above with its AI Shopping Research tool, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Per the news outlet, the new shopping assistant is currently being tested in the US, and is visible to select users on desktop browsers when accessing Meta AI on the web. Now you must be wondering how someone would know about this feature, right? Well, if the new tool is available for you, you should see the “Shopping Research” button inside the query text box, as seen below.
Wondering how it works? Well, when you ask for product suggestions, the chatbot will offer a carousel along with product images and their pricing. A link to the e-commerce website will accompany the same so that you get more information about the brand. The report also mentions that Meta AI will briefly explain why it recommended a specific product to you.
You can’t purchase the recommended product directly from Meta AI
If Meta AI has access to your information, including gender and location, it will also be able to personalize shopping recommendations for you. That being said, Meta doesn’t allow direct checkout from its AI assistant as of now. However, you’ll be redirected to purchase the recommended product if you click on the link provided by Meta AI.
