Smart Shopping with Meta AI

Meta is reportedly testing new shopping and product research capabilities within its AI assistant, Meta AI, for select users in the United States. According to a Bloomberg report, users can request product suggestions such as clothing, electronics, or accessories and receive a carousel of images with detailed summaries. Each product card displays the brand name, website, price, and a brief explanation in bullet points describing why the item was recommended.

The tool also allows users to make natural language queries, such as comparing smartphones, laptops, or home appliances. In response, the assistant provides pricing ranges, feature comparisons, and a clear list of pros and cons. Future updates may include direct links to online retailers, potentially enabling monetisation through affiliate partnerships.

The recommendations are said to be personalised based on user data such as location and inferred preferences. In one reported example, the assistant suggested women’s puffer jackets based on the account holder’s name and New York location. This development comes as competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini expand their own AI-powered shopping features, intensifying competition in the AI space.