Latent Space AI Inside Pinterest Says There Is No Future For AI Shopping: Why pinterest is betting against ai in retail
Aug 19, 2025
Pinterest takes a surprising stance against the dominance of AI in e-commerce. The CEO critiques the readiness of consumers for AI-driven shopping experiences. The discussion highlights Pinterest's untapped opportunities in the competitive AI shopping landscape, raising questions about the future of autonomous purchasing. This bold perspective may encourage other companies to rethink their reliance on AI algorithms in retail.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Pinterest Says Full Agent Shopping Is Distant
- Pinterest's CEO thinks AI agents fully shopping for users is a long way off except for simple, utilitarian purchases.
- Jaeden Schafer strongly disagrees and argues user readiness and tech capability make agentic shopping feasible today.
Use Follow-Up Questions To Nail Intent
- Build shopping agents that ask 3–5 clarifying questions before searching to nail user intent.
- Offer choices like "surprise me" or a confirm-then-purchase flow via text or browser popup.
Start With Research Or Easy-Return Purchases
- Let agents either research and present options or fully buy with user permissions and easy return strategies.
- Start with purchases on return-friendly platforms like Amazon to reduce user friction.