Pinterest launches an experimental AI shopping app called ‘Ask Pinterest’

On Wednesday, Pinterest introduced an innovative experimental application named 'Ask Pinterest', aimed at revolutionizing the shopping experience through a conversational interface. This new platform is a part of Pinterest's strategy to explore a more interactive method of product discovery that could eventually integrate into the main Pinterest app. In addition to 'Ask Pinterest', the company unveiled several AI initiatives, including the Pinterest Model Context Protocol (MCP), which is tailored for advertisers utilizing Pinterest's platform. These announcements coincide with the upcoming Cannes Lions advertising festival, where the focus will largely be on how AI can enhance advertising and marketing strategies. The 'Ask Pinterest' app harnesses the power of Pinterest's 'Taste Graph', a sophisticated data mapping tool that connects users to their preferences and aesthetics. Initially available in a limited rollout, this AI-driven experience seeks to broaden Pinterest's renowned visual discovery capabilities into a chatbot-like environment, allowing users to engage in natural language queries for personalized recommendations and inspiration. This launch comes at a time when AI chatbots are increasingly challenging traditional search engines for user engagement. Competitors like Google have already integrated AI to assist online shoppers with product searches, price tracking, and checkout processes. Similarly, various platforms, including ChatGPT, Meta, and Shopify, are pioneering their own versions of intelligent shopping assistants. Rather than becoming a mere aggregator of product suggestions for other AI services, Pinterest is focusing on using its proprietary data to train its AI models and enhance its products. By positioning 'Ask Pinterest' as a standalone app, the company can experiment with technology without impacting the main Pinterest experience. The application is designed to address more complex queries that may not be suitable for conventional Pinterest searches. Users could, for example, seek assistance with planning a dinner party or gradually furnishing a room. Pinterest aims to investigate how AI can enhance shopping experiences while maintaining user context across multiple sessions. Additionally, 'Ask Pinterest' can utilize users' saved Pins and Boards to tailor its responses. Over time, insights gained from this app are expected to inform the development of more AI-enhanced features within Pinterest's flagship application. The announcement of this new app was accompanied by updates for marketers, including a beta AI assistant in the U.S. Ads Manager. A global introduction of the Performance+ creative AI model will also assist advertisers in selecting the most effective ad creatives for their campaigns. Furthermore, the MCP infrastructure will enable advertisers to oversee their campaigns with various third-party tools in a streamlined manner. Lee Brown, Pinterest’s Chief Business Officer, highlighted the evolving landscape of web discovery, stating that "the future of discovery won’t be driven by keywords alone. It will be shaped by context, taste, and trusted recommendations," emphasizing Pinterest’s unique strengths in this area.