Whether you only shop online or love going to the mall, you probably want to find the best deals. In this economy, every dollar counts, and using artificial intelligence as your shopping assistant can save you money.
Considering ChatGPT has the largest user base and user-generated resources, I decided to give it a try to see how it works as a personal shopper. However, I didn’t just use regular ChatGPT, I used a custom GPT.
ChatGPT’s plugin functionality was recently deprecated. So instead of installing a plugin like Aardvark AI that allows you to search for products in real time without ads, use the Explore GPT option.
ChatGPT has made many custom GPTs available to free users, but I used ChatGPT Plus because the GPT-4 model has web access. I wanted to see if I could save more than $20 a month.
ChatGPT: Your bargain hunting buddy
I tried two examples.
big purchase. Searching for valid coupons.
I found Shopping GPT using Explore GPT’s search bar.
big shopping
I want a new MacBook Pro, so I turned to ChatGPT to help me find a model I like and find cheaper purchasing options than the Apple Store.
Right off the bat, it gave me two viable options. It’s the same product for $180 less than the Apple Store and a smaller model for $50 less than the Apple Store.
Screenshot by Amanda Smith/CNET Screenshot by Amanda Smith/CNET
This was compared to Apple’s prices of $999 and $1,199, but I realized I hadn’t specified “new” and the $50 cheaper option was actually a 2023 refurbished model.
Although ChatGPT Plus has internet access, it’s unclear how old the data used to train Shopping GPT is, so be sure to double-check prices on the actual company website.
Take what ChatGPT suggests as an option and always act as devil’s advocate. For example, AI could oversell or misrepresent “reputable websites.” I had never heard of PC Richard & Son, but my Google research found legitimate reviews.
I asked to only see new models from well-known websites at lower prices than the Apple Store.
This AI tool is back with only Best Buy and B&H options. Both were priced at $1,199, which was no cheaper than Apple’s website. So I asked ChatGPT if they could provide a way to get the same MacBook for less than $1,199 and access sales at Best Buy and B&H.
It contained mostly general information, but there was a gold nugget in it.
Screenshot by Amanda Smith/CNET
When I went to Best Buy and searched for the same model in the Open Box section by lowest price, I found three even cheaper deals where you could save between $275 and $295.
Find valid coupons
Amazon always has a ton of coupons and I wanted to see if I could aggregate the current coupons with ChatGPT or Custom GPT enabled. Since I have several items to buy on Amazon, I asked ChatGPT how I can save money on my next order. It told me about Amazon’s coupon page and a browser extension that automatically applies coupons at checkout.
I found a teeth whitening product I liked on a coupon page, so I used it to test if it worked. It was!
Screenshot by Amanda Smith/CNET
I then tried ChatGPT’s second suggestion, the PayPal Honey browser extension.
I installed Honey and created an account. I chose the brand I wanted to shop (Madewell) and searched for coupons.
Screenshot by Amanda Smith/CNET
After activating the offer, I was directed to Madewell’s website. I had my eye on a linen dress. The item didn’t have a valid code, but I was eligible for 4% cashback.
This time I tried it with Adidas sneakers. I found a coupon opportunity for Honey and applied it to my order.
Screenshot by Amanda Smith/CNET
Should you use ChatGPT for online shopping?
ChatGPT pointed me in the right direction in my research and helped me find the best online prices for the products I needed to purchase.
However, there are other ways to get the best deal using ChatGPT. For example, use it to create scripts and talking points to negotiate better deals with service providers. You can also check out CNET’s AI Atlas hub for tips on how to use AI to save money on groceries and how to use AI to create invitations and save money on your wedding. Masu.
Finding deals can feel like a lot of work for AI, but if you have the time and patience, these tools can save you money.