With artificial intelligence (AI) becoming more integrated into daily life, many consumers are using AI chatbots to shop online. To see how effective they really are, we tested three popular AI tools—ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini—across three use cases: buying a laptop, selecting sunscreen, and finding a Father’s Day gift.
We input the same prompts into all three platforms and compared the results.
Perplexity: Best for visual listings and ease of use
Perplexity offered the most user-friendly experience. It organized results visually, listing products with photos, features, and summaries. For example, it described an MSI laptop as a budget-friendly option and highlighted the HP model for its vivid display. Sunscreen products came with notes on hydration, light texture, and no white cast.
It also included user reviews and star ratings from major retailers like Walmart and Best Buy, and premium users could click “buy” and check out instantly using saved cards. However, Perplexity fell short in real-time price comparison. For instance, a featured sunscreen—Beauty of Joseon—was listed at over $15, while it was available elsewhere for about $14 with coupons when buying a two-pack.
ChatGPT: Best for detailed product specs
ChatGPT excelled at technical comparisons. It laid out laptop specs—like CPU models—in detail and listed sunscreen ingredients for comparison. Although it cannot perform live price tracking, it linked to price comparison websites and offered general purchasing advice. When pushed for prices, it responded with disclaimers like “not real-time data.”
For Father’s Day gifts, ChatGPT stood out by suggesting creative options and even including examples of card messages.
Gemini: Least helpful in current form
Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, lagged behind in usability. Its product comparisons were vague and didn’t clarify pros or cons. It offered minimal links and gave generalized answers like “prices vary by configuration.” Even when prompted with specific product names, it provided basic links without summaries.
For Father’s Day gifts, Gemini recommended generic items like supplements, without much personalization.
Prompt quality directly impacts results
One clear takeaway: AI responses improve dramatically with more specific prompts. When we provided details like the recipient’s age, hobbies, or location, all tools delivered more tailored suggestions. A well-crafted prompt is key to getting useful shopping advice from any AI platform.
BY WONHEE CHO [cho.wonhee@koreadaily.com]
