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A year ago, we wrote about how Perplexity launched shopping features for paying users. Now PayPal is entering the game as a payment partner, bringing shopping to all US users.
How It Works
You enter a product query, and Perplexity shows offers from stores like Abercrombie & Fitch, Ashley Furniture, or Fabletics. You pay via PayPal without leaving the search interface.
To kick things off, PayPal offered 50% back (max $50) on the first purchase. The promotion ran for a week starting November 25th.
For Merchants
Merchants with a PayPal account can join. Products sync automatically and appear in search results.
What it means:
- Products are visible right when customers are searching for them
- Payments go directly to merchants, not through an intermediary
- PayPal covers fraud protection
Crucially, the merchant remains the merchant of record – responsible for transactions and customer service.
What This Means for E-commerce
Perplexity isn’t alone. In October, we wrote about how ChatGPT launched Instant Checkout – direct purchases through the chatbot in partnership with Etsy and Shopify. A few days ago, OpenAI added AI shopping research – a feature that searches and compares products for you.
The pattern is clear: AI tools are shifting from search engines to stores.
For e-shops, this means another sales channel. Alongside websites, marketplaces, and social networks, AI assistants are arriving. The question isn’t if it will happen, but when.
What shops should watch:
- Product data quality – AI will only pick well-described products
- Integrations with payment partners like PayPal or Stripe
- Development of protocols like OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce
Just like with the rise of marketplaces or social networks, those who adapt early will survive this time too. PayPal with Perplexity is another player in a game that’s just getting started.
