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Perplexity and PayPal Team Up for AI Shopping: What It Means for You

The partnership lets you browse and buy from one interface -- which is convenient, but be cautious.

Headshot of Dashia Milden
Headshot of Dashia Milden
Dashia Milden Editor
Dashia is the consumer insights editor for CNET. She specializes in data-driven analysis and news at the intersection of tech, personal finance and consumer sentiment. Dashia investigates economic shifts and everyday challenges to help readers make well-informed decisions, and she covers a range of topics, including technology, security, energy and money. Dashia graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor's degree in journalism. She loves baking, teaching spinning and spending time with her family.
Dashia Milden
2 min read
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PayPal will handle the payment, shipping, tracking and invoicing processes as a part of Perplexity's shopping experience.

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Imagine asking an AI-powered engine to book your next vacation and even find the flights for it. That's exactly what Perplexity's new partnership with PayPal will do starting this summer in the US. 

Perplexity, an AI chatbot and search engine, and PayPal announced the partnership and what it will mean for shoppers on Wednesday. Shoppers will be able to use the chat feature to browse and make purchases on Perplexity's Pro platform, and PayPal and Venmo will now be the accepted payment methods. 

According to PayPal's statement, the news is part of Perplexity's push for "agentic commerce," which lets Perplexity use AI for shopping and transactions via PayPal's commerce solutions. PayPal will also handle the shipping, tracking and invoicing processes. 

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The partnership of Perplexity and PayPal for an AI-powered shopping model isn't the first of its kind. Visa and Mastercard already have AI shopping programs aimed at learning your shopping habits and customizing your experience -- if you allow the bot to do so.

Naturally, relying on AI to handle shopping can raise some questions about online security and risks of identity theft, especially if you're storing your credit card and personal information online. PayPal highlighted that its fraud detection and data security protocols will be used. 

Visa and Mastercard's programs use a one-time use key to replace your credit card information when making purchases for security purposes. As of now, it's unclear whether PayPal will do the same or if it has other payment security measures in place. 

Whether you're shopping online as you normally would or you want to give these programs a shot, remember to follow common Internet security and safety measures. Use a VPN to shield your IP address and any other personal data, and keep an eye on your bank accounts for odd charges.Â