As reported a few weeks ago, Perplexity has introduced an AI-powered shopping assistant for its US subscribers that aims to automate online purchases. The new service allows the AI to navigate retail websites, search for products, and complete checkout processes on behalf of customers. The system uses Stripe’s payment infrastructure to generate single-use debit cards for transactions, adding a layer of financial security.
Early testing reveals significant limitations, with purchase processing taking several hours and frequent transaction failures, according to TechCrunch reporter Maxwell Zeff. The service requires human oversight to verify transactions, raising privacy concerns about personal data handling. While companies like OpenAI, Google, and Amazon are developing similar shopping agents, Perplexity’s implementation currently faces challenges with real-time inventory tracking and retailer authorization.