Pinterest bets on AI with new shopping app
Pinterest is diving headfirst into the online shopping universe. The company revealed the launch of "Ask Pinterest," an experimental app that promises to revolutionize how we discover products. The idea is straightforward: use artificial intelligence to create a more conversational and personalized shopping experience. But it doesn't stop there. Pinterest also announced other AI initiatives, such as the Pinterest Model Context Protocol (MCP), aimed at advertisers using its platform.
"Ask Pinterest" seeks to expand Pinterest's typical visual discovery experience into something more interactive. Imagine a chatbot that understands what you want and suggests products based on your questions. It's like having a personal shopping assistant who knows your tastes and preferences. This move comes at a time when AI chatbots are competing with traditional search engines for consumers' attention. Google, Meta, and Shopify are already in this race, but Pinterest wants to use its own data to train AI models and power its products, rather than relying on licensing deals with other companies.
The interesting thing is that "Ask Pinterest" is a standalone app, meaning the company can test the technology without altering the core Pinterest experience. This is useful for more complex queries that wouldn't fit into a traditional search. For example, you can ask for help planning a party or decorating a room over time. The app also leverages your saved Pins and Boards to further personalize the answers. Over time, these experiences will help Pinterest create even more powerful features for its main app.
Pinterest's vision for the future of shopping
Alongside the launch of "Ask Pinterest," the company also announced updates aimed at the advertising market. In the US, an AI assistant in Ads Manager is in beta testing. Globally, the Performance+ creative model was introduced to help advertisers choose the best creatives for their ads. And MCP, an infrastructure layer, will allow advertisers to manage their campaigns using third-party tools in a standardized way.
Lee Brown, Pinterest's Chief Business Officer, stated that the future of web discovery will no longer be driven solely by keywords. According to him, "it will be shaped by context, taste, and
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