Pinterest launches AI shopping app Ask Pinterest

Pinterest has launched a new experimental shopping application called Ask Pinterest, part of a broader suite of artificial intelligence tools announced this week aimed at both consumers and advertisers. The announcements, made ahead of the Cannes Lions advertising festival, signal the company's intensified push to position itself as an AI-enabled platform for visual discovery and commerce.

The Ask Pinterest app is designed to explore conversational, visual-first shopping experiences. It functions as a chatbot-like interface where users can ask questions in natural language to receive personalized product recommendations and inspiration. The app leverages Pinterest's internal data system, known as the Taste Graph, along with a user's saved Pins and Boards to tailor its responses. The company stated the app is intended for more complex, multi-step queries, such as planning a dinner party or furnishing a room over time. Currently, Ask Pinterest is available in a limited access mode in the United States.

Alongside the consumer-facing app, Pinterest introduced several AI-powered tools for advertisers. A key offering is the Business Assistant, an AI tool integrated into the company's...