Perplexity's AI Search Engine Now Offers One-Click Shopping and More

Perplexity, the AI-driven search engine, is taking online shopping to the next level with its new "Buy with Pro" feature. This addition allows Pro subscribers to purchase products directly within the search engine, eliminating the need to navigate to external websites. By leveraging saved shipping and billing information, users in the United States can now enjoy a seamless shopping experience with just one click. Products purchased through this feature come with the added benefit of free shipping, enhancing the appeal of this service.

For products not supported by the "Buy with Pro" option, Perplexity redirects users to the respective merchant's website to complete their purchases. Despite offering such a convenient feature, Perplexity receives no commission or kickback from sales. According to Perplexity spokesperson Sara Platnick, "As of now, we do not," emphasizing that "there's no commercial element" to this feature. However, Platnick hinted that affiliate revenue might be somewhat off the table.

Non-subscribers can still take advantage of other updated AI shopping features. These include new product cards for product-related searches, showcasing an image, price, and AI-generated summaries of key features and reviews. Perplexity is also rolling out an innovative "Snap to Shop" tool, allowing users to take a picture of a product and ask questions about it. Like Google Lens, this feature will initially be available exclusively to Pro users. Moreover, Perplexity Pro subscribers already enjoy the ability to make visual searches that extend beyond shopping purposes.

In addition to enhancing the consumer shopping experience, Perplexity is launching a Merchant Program designed to benefit retailers. This initiative allows merchants to share product specifications with the app, increasing the likelihood of their products being recommended in search results. Participating merchants also gain insights into shopping and search trends without compromising user privacy, as Perplexity has confirmed that it does not share specific user browsing habits with merchants.

Perplexity is positioning itself as a strong competitor to Google and OpenAI by integrating AI-generated responses with real-time web data. Unlike Google Shopping, Perplexity doesn't monetize its shopping feature through affiliate links. However, its innovative approach to combining AI with e-commerce demonstrates its potential to rival significant players in the industry. With features like Buy with Pro, shoppable search results, and AI-driven tools, Perplexity is carving a niche in the market.

While the platform's capabilities are expanding, it has yet to be designed to perform multi-step tasks, a feature anticipated by competitors like Google and OpenAI shortly. However, introducing shoppable search results could be a foundation for future autonomous functionalities. Despite facing challenges such as copyright and trademark infringement allegations, Perplexity continues to push forward, monetizing AI-powered search results and refining its services to attract more users.

Perplexity's foray into AI-powered shopping and its Merchant Program reflects a significant step in its journey to innovate and compete with industry giants. With a Pro subscription priced at $20 per month, Perplexity offers features that aim to provide convenience, efficiency, and insights for users and merchants. As the company evolves, its dedication to enhancing the shopping experience and integrating advanced AI tools ensures it remains a player to watch in the rapidly growing AI search engine space.