Ai Savior Or Shopping Hell: Can Generative Models Tame Holiday Chaos

As the holiday season approaches, finding the perfect gifts for loved ones can be overwhelming. I decided to test generative AI models to see if they could help take the burden off my shoulders.

In this era of rapid technological advancements, agentic AI agents are being touted as the key to unlocking maximum efficiency and productivity. For me, a potential solution lies in their ability to aid us in mundane tasks, like shopping. With the capacity to reason about the next steps, these AI agents could potentially execute multiple actions from a single query – making them an attractive solution for those who struggle with the task.

I reached out to prominent generative AI models, including Perplexity AI, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude, and Amazon’s Rufus, to see if they could help me find gifts. While none of these apps can currently autonomously shop, I discovered that they are equipped with powerful features that enable them to parse and summarize product descriptions, as well as compare different items.

Perplexity AI’s newly launched Buy with Pro service is a notable exception. This feature promises to make shopping online “10x more easy and fun,” coming with a $20 per month subscription to Perplexity Pro. It utilizes advanced AI algorithms to suggest products based on user preferences, making it easier for me to make informed decisions.

As I navigated through the website, I found that Buy with Pro offered surprisingly accurate suggestions for my gift list. The AI-powered recommendations took into account factors such as age, interests, and past purchases. However, I still had to enter payment information and complete individual retailer transactions – a limitation.

My test group consisted of five individuals ranging in age from 6 months to 49 years old. A close friend who shares my passion for baking was one of the primary recipients of my virtual shopping spree. The AI-powered tool proved valuable in streamlining the process, providing accurate suggestions and reducing decision-making time.

While none of the generative AI apps could fully automate my holiday shopping needs, they did prove to be useful tools. As we continue to explore agentic AI agents, it will be interesting to see how these technologies evolve – perhaps one day making online shopping more enjoyable for all.

The true power of generative AI lies not in automating every aspect of our lives but in augmenting our abilities and providing tools that can help us work more efficiently. As we look to the future, it will be exciting to see how these technologies continue to shape our daily lives – one online shopping experience at a time.