Pinterest has announced the launch of a new experimental app called "Ask Pinterest," designed to explore a conversational approach to shopping and product discovery. This initiative marks a significant step toward integrating artificial intelligence into the online purchasing process, leveraging Pinterest's "Taste Graph," an internal map of user tastes and interests.
A new way to shop
Ask Pinterest presents itself as a chatbot interface where users can ask questions in natural language to receive personalized recommendations. Unlike traditional search, this system can handle complex requests such as planning a dinner party or furnishing a room over time. The app maintains context across sessions, allowing for a seamless and continuous experience. To personalize responses, Ask Pinterest taps into users' saved Pins and boards, making suggestions even more relevant.
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This move comes as AI chatbots are increasingly competing with traditional search engines for consumer attention. Google has already integrated AI to help shoppers, while ChatGPT and others have experimented with agentic shopping. Pinterest, however, relies on its own data to train AI models, without resorting to external licenses. The decision to launch a standalone app allows the company to test the technology without disrupting the main Pinterest experience.
The Taste Graph at the core of innovation
The "Taste Graph" is the beating heart of Ask Pinterest. It is a system that associates each user with specific interests and aesthetic styles based on past interactions. This enables the AI to offer highly targeted suggestions, going beyond simple keywords. The goal is to create a discovery experience that is not only functional but also inspirational, as Lee Brown, Pinterest's Chief Business Officer, stated: "the future of discovery will not be driven by keywords alone; it will be shaped by context, taste, and trusted recommendations."
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Ask Pinterest is currently available in limited access, but features are expected to eventually merge into the main app. Meanwhile, Pinterest has also launched other AI tools for advertisers, including a beta AI assistant in Ads Manager and the new Performance+ creative model, which helps select the most performant ad creative. Finally, the MCP (Model Context Protocol) infrastructure allows advertisers to manage campaigns via third-party agentic tools.
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Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing many industries, as highlighted in the article Green Revolution: Solid-State Air Conditioners and AI-Designed Animal Drugs. To learn more about Pinterest's role in the tech landscape, check the Wikipedia page on Pinterest. With Ask Pinterest, the platform aims to redefine the online shopping experience, putting AI at the service of users' desires and tastes.
