# Study finds AI shopping assistants wrong 86% of the time on prices and specs

Digest AI · Marketing & Small Business · published 2026-09-25T11:40:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/study-finds-ai-shopping-assistants-wrong-86-of-the-time-on-prices-and

## Summary

A study by Product.ai tested free and paid versions of four AI models—ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude—on 220 shopping questions. The models provided incorrect or conflicting information in **86%** of responses, with comparison questions wrong **97%** of the time. Errors included outdated product listings, contradictory prices, and exaggerated specifications. For high-cost items like laptops, mattresses, and TVs, the median price error was **$300**, and **10%** of incorrect responses deviated by **$500 or more**—a gap the researchers called ‘almost no middle ground between exactly right and badly wrong.’

## Key points

- Product.ai tested four AI models on 220 shopping questions, finding 86% of answers wrong or conflicting
- Comparison questions were wrong 97% of the time, with median price errors of $300 for high-cost items
- 10% of incorrect responses had errors of $500 or more, per the study’s researchers

## Why it matters

Inaccurate AI shopping assistants risk wasting millions or billions in consumer spending, undermining trust in AI tools for purchases. With 30-45% of US shoppers using AI for product research, errors could drive customers away from automated tools.

## Sources

1. [Study: AI Shopping Assistants Are Wrong 86% of the Time](https://tech.co/news/ai-shopping-assistants-not-ready-holidays) (tech.co, 2026-09-25)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Study finds AI shopping assistants wrong 86% of the time on prices and specs", 25 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/study-finds-ai-shopping-assistants-wrong-86-of-the-time-on-prices-and

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