Pinterest has launched an experimental AI-powered shopping app called Ask Pinterest, which allows users to seek recommendations and inspiration through a conversational interface.
What Happened
The limited-access app will process natural-language queries from users who are making "multi-step decisions that don't fit neatly into a single search, like planning a dinner party on a budget," the company said. Pinterest explained that Ask Pinterest could work for more complex or multistep queries that wouldn't fit a traditional Pinterest search.
The app will leverage Pinterest's taste graph, which is a set of user insights, as well as visual data cues and other proprietary information, to power more personalized recommendations and inspiration. Users can ask questions using natural language to get more personalized recommendations and inspiration, expanding the visual discovery experience beyond the main app to a conversational, chatbot-like interface.
Background and Context
Pinterest has been investing heavily in AI-powered shopping experiences, including its "make it yours" feature, which recommends fashion and home products. The company also introduced other AI-powered discovery features last year, such as "styled for you" and "boards made for you," which create AI-generated collages and boards.
The launch of Ask Pinterest comes shortly after the company invested a record $4 billion to deepen its relationship with Amazon Web Services and improve its visual search features. Pinterest sees itself as an "AI-enabled shopping assistant," according to CEO Bill Ready, who told analysts on a Q2 2025 earnings call that the platform is becoming "a destination for our users to explore their expansive set of commercial journeys."
Why it Matters
The introduction of Ask Pinterest marks a significant step in the evolution of AI-powered shopping experiences. The app's conversational interface and ability to process complex queries could help improve user engagement and conversion rates, making it an attractive feature for adult-industry platforms looking to enhance their own shopping experiences.
As consumer behavior around AI search and discovery evolves, Pinterest is creating a new space to rapidly test and learn. The company's focus on AI-driven commerce signals a strategic pivot towards leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve user experience and drive business outcomes.
What Comes Next
The results from Ask Pinterest will help inform future AI-powered experiences across the main app, according to Pinterest. The company believes that the insights gained from this experimental app will enable it to build more effective AI-powered shopping experiences for its users.
Pinterest's chief business officer, Lee Brown, gestured toward the changing nature of web search, remarking that "the future of discovery won't be driven by keywords alone. It will be shaped by context, taste, and trusted recommendations" – an area where Pinterest feels it has a unique advantage.
Key Facts
- Pinterest launched Ask Pinterest, an experimental AI-powered shopping app that allows users to seek recommendations and inspiration through a conversational interface.
- The limited-access app will process natural-language queries from users who are making "multi-step decisions that don't fit neatly into a single search."
- Ask Pinterest leverages Pinterest's taste graph, which is a set of user insights, as well as visual data cues and other proprietary information.
- The app will retain context across sessions and allow users to ask questions using natural language to get more personalized recommendations and inspiration.
- Pinterest invested a record $4 billion to deepen its relationship with Amazon Web Services and improve its visual search features.
- The results from Ask Pinterest will help inform future AI-powered experiences across the main app.