OpenAI has launched a new shopping research feature in ChatGPT to help users find products, compare items, and get gift ideas. The tool acts as a personal shopper, creating customized buying guides for free. Sabrina Ortiz reports for ZDNet that the feature is rolling out to all logged-in users on mobile and web.
The assistant initiates a conversation by asking clarifying questions about budget or desired features to tailor its recommendations. It then searches the internet, considers product reviews, and presents its findings. According to the report, a key part of the experience is an interactive process where users can quickly approve or reject suggested products to refine the search results further.
OpenAI states the tool is powered by a specialized AI model trained for shopping tasks to read trusted sites and synthesize information. The company claims its results are organic and user chats are not shared with retailers.
While the model aims for high accuracy, OpenAI acknowledges that details like pricing or availability can sometimes be incorrect and advises users to verify the information. Ortiz found the tool to be fun and helpful, especially for staying within a budget, but concluded it would not completely replace her own shopping methods.
