Meta Platforms is piloting a new AI-powered shopping discovery feature, stepping up competition with similar capabilities from OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, according to Bloomberg.
The social media company has begun introducing the tool to a select group of users in the US through its Meta AI web interface, according to the report. The update reportedly enables people to ask the chatbot for buying advice and product ideas, expanding the assistant’s role beyond text-based queries and general information.
When prompted for recommendations, the chatbot displays a scroll of product photos accompanied by short descriptions, with listings including details such as brand name, retail website and pricing, the news outlet reported.
The test underscores how generative AI is reshaping the way consumers discover products online, potentially shifting activity away from traditional search engines and e-commerce marketplaces toward conversational interfaces.