Pinterest Unveils 'Ask Pinterest' AI App and Ad Tools Ahead of Industry Event
Pinterest launched 'Ask Pinterest,' an experimental AI shopping app offering conversational product discovery through natural language. This chatbot-like interface, initially in limited access, leverages the company's 'Taste Graph' for personalized recommendations. The move, alongside new AI ad tools, positions Pinterest in the competitive AI commerce space, aligning with the adtech industry's focus on AI at Cannes Lions.
Key points
- Pinterest, the visual discovery platform, announced an experimental AI shopping app called 'Ask Pinterest' recently.
- The app uses a conversational, chatbot-like interface to provide personalized product recommendations via natural language queries.
- 'Ask Pinterest' leverages the company's proprietary 'Taste Graph,' an internal data system mapping user interests and aesthetics.
- The new application is launching with limited access, with potential future integration into Pinterest's main platform.
- Pinterest also introduced AI-powered advertising tools, including the Pinterest Model Context Protocol (MCP), for businesses running campaigns.
- This initiative positions Pinterest in the evolving AI commerce sector, alongside competitors like Google, Meta, and Shopify, coinciding with the AI-focused Cannes Lions adtech event.
Pinterest has unveiled "Ask Pinterest," an experimental artificial intelligence-powered shopping application designed to transform product discovery through conversational interactions. Announced recently, this standalone experience aims to offer a more chatbot-like interface where users can engage with the platform using natural language to seek personalized recommendations and inspiration. The company views "Ask Pinterest" as a key initiative to explore new methods of connecting users with products, with the potential for its features to eventually be integrated into the main Pinterest app, significantly expanding its utility beyond visual browsing.
The core of "Ask Pinterest" relies on the company's sophisticated "Taste Graph," an internal data mapping system that intricately connects users with their diverse interests and aesthetic preferences. This proprietary technology enables the AI to provide highly tailored suggestions, moving beyond static image searches to dynamic, interactive conversations. Initially, "Ask Pinterest" will be available to a select group of users through limited access, allowing the company to gather crucial feedback and refine the experience before a wider rollout or deeper integration. This cautious approach ensures the technology meets user needs and aligns with Pinterest's broader strategic goals.
Beyond the new shopping app, Pinterest also introduced several other AI-driven initiatives targeted at advertisers. These include the Pinterest Model Context Protocol (MCP) and various AI ad tools, all designed to enhance campaign performance and relevance on its platform. These developments come just ahead of the annual Cannes Lions gathering, a prominent event in the adtech industry, which this year is heavily focused on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on advertising and marketing strategies. This strategic timing positions Pinterest firmly within the evolving landscape of AI commerce, where major tech players like Google, Meta, and Shopify are also actively integrating AI into their shopping and commerce offerings. The move underscores an industry-wide shift towards more agentic and conversational commerce experiences, as AI chatbots increasingly compete with traditional search engines for consumer attention in the discovery phase.
Sources
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