Perplexity launches AI shopping assistant to rival Rufus
Perplexity has launched an AI shopping assistant ahead of Black Friday, going head-to-head with Amazon's Rufus. The feature offers conversational product search, photo-based 'Snap to Shop' queries, visual product cards with pricing and pros and cons, and one-click 'Buy with Pro' checkout with free shipping for U.S. subscribers. Unlike Rufus, recommendations carry no paid placement, and the platform integrates with Shopify and multiple retailers rather than a single ecosystem.
A companion merchant program lets sellers enroll for fuller indexing and free API access powering search on their own sites; Perplexity is not taking a cut of purchases for now.
The incoming administration doubled down on tariff plans: 10 percent on all imports from Canada and Mexico, a move that would effectively end the USMCA, alongside a universal baseline tariff and steeper China rates. Economists warn of higher consumer prices and retaliation.
Temu has opened its marketplace to all U.S. sellers, promising delivery as fast as one business day from domestic warehouses. Applications typically get reviewed within one business day; U.S. merchants currently make up under 1 percent of Temu's estimated 300,000 sellers.
Pricing psychology research circulating among sellers holds that 99 endings suit low-priced items while 95 endings signal premium at higher prices, depending on whether the buyer's expected price sits above or below the actual one.
Amazon DSP is being pitched to sellers above $2.5 million in revenue, with retargeting windows up to six months and location targeting down to IP and Whole Foods shopping data. Separately, Alibaba launched an AI sourcing assistant, TikTok forecasts 58 percent year-over-year Christmas sales growth, Amazon is discounting Haul orders an extra 50 percent, and 59 percent of shoppers begin their Christmas shopping on Black Friday weekend.
