One of the Best AI Shopping Tools of 2024: A Must-Try for Savvy Shoppers

Let's face it, whenever you shop online -- whether it's to buy furniture, clothes, or a gift -- you're rolling the dice on whether you'll like it when it arrives at your doorstep.

Returning some items can be difficult, which means you'll either spend your time or tap into your personal finances to ship them back.

Google thinks artificial intelligence could help solve this problem, at least for some purchases. The company recently rolled out several new AI shopping features in its search function that could make shopping easier. Here are a few reasons why it's a must-try for savvy shoppers this year.

1. You don't need to learn anything new

Apps usually have a learning curve to them. But one of the benefits of Google integrating AI into its shopping results is that you don't need to do anything differently. Just search like you usually do.

All you have to do is opt-in to using Google's AI. When I opened the Google Search app on my iPhone, there was a small beaker in the top left corner. I tapped on it and then selected the option to allow Google's search generative experience (SGE).

2. Google's AI can summarize reviews

One of the first things you'll notice with Google's AI shopping feature is automatic summaries of products.

I want to replace some of the furniture on our front porch, so I typed "outdoor furniture" into Google's app, and as I scrolled down, Google showed me results from Ikea, Amazon, Walmart, and others, complete with AI-generated descriptions of the outdoor furniture products.

Some of the AI-generated descriptions even summarized reviews of the products, which was super helpful. For example, Google's AI told me reviews of the Ikea table and chairs said the chairs were sturdy, easy to assemble, and well made.

3. You can describe exactly what you want

One of the coolest features of Google's AI shopping tool is that you can describe exactly what you want to buy and then let Google's AI create images of what you're thinking about.

For example, I typed "men's blue cardigan sweater" and tapped the "generate images" button. Within seconds, Google had generated sweater images for me to choose from. I tapped one I liked, and then it found sweaters that matched the AI image I selected. This feature could come in handy if you have a unique style you're looking for and can't quite find what you're looking for while browsing.

4. You can (sort of) try on clothes virtually

I put this feature at the end because, while helpful, I think it needs some improvement. This feature allows you to select from 40 models, each with different sizes and heights, to best match your body type.

For example, let's say you search for a sweatshirt and see one you like. Some results will show a "try-on" button you can tap, and then you can choose the model that best fits your body type to see how it looks.

While helpful, it's probably not as useful as it could be. The feature is limited to only some brands and clothing. Selecting a model that's relatively close to your height and size may not give you a great idea of whether the item will fit you well.

AI shopping will get much better

Google released these advanced shopping features fairly recently, so we're just at the beginning of how AI could impact online shopping. Other companies are also moving quickly into this space, with Amazon recently releasing a chatbot in its app that answers questions about products.

In the meantime, while AI is still only a whisper as we shop and not able to completely take over for us, make sure to be diligent and compare prices. Using coupons apps and browser extensions that automatically compile prices from various sources across the internet can help ensure you're getting a fair price on the items you're looking for.

Considering the U.S. e-commerce industry is estimated to become a $1.5 trillion market by 2028, you can be sure more companies will launch more AI tools soon to continue to improve the online shopping experience.