Hunt for a $400 mixed-metal bracelet on Etsy with ChatGPT Instant Checkout and end with an empty cart (failure)
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- by Jordan Hart (Business Insider, via Yahoo Tech)
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Evidence: Article or interviewA newsletter, journalist or interview account of what happened.
FailureThe source says the agent did not get the job done.
What went wrong: No Instant Checkout-eligible item was found, and the search ended without a purchase.
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Outcome
Business Insider's Jordan Hart tried ChatGPT's new Instant Checkout to find their mom a birthday bracelet in sterling silver and gold, with a $400 budget, starting on Etsy. ChatGPT listed seven Etsy options, but with links rather than a buy button, and one was a $2,400 cuff. Asked to show only items it could sell in the chat, it said it couldn't reliably tell from the product data which were eligible, and Skims and Glossier weren't live yet either. Searching other retailers, it found bracelets from brands such as Kendra Scott and Mejuri that fit the brief, though it had to be asked again for direct links. They didn't love any of them and ended with an empty cart.
Agent
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show me handmade silver and gold bracelets on Etsy
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Optional stronger version
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Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about anything important that's missing below. Keep them quick. Then do the task, checking in with me at the key points. Goal: Find a gift that matches a clear description and budget, with links I can buy from. What I can give you (ask for whatever's missing): - Who it's for and what they've asked for: [DETAILS] - My budget: [BUDGET] - Shops I like or want to avoid: [DETAILS] - When I need it by: [DATE] Rules: - Only show items within my budget, including shipping. - Give a direct product link for each, and check it's in stock and can arrive in time. - Show 5 options at most, with one line on why each fits. - Tell me where I'd actually check out, in this chat or on the shop's site. - Ask for my OK before you pay, book, send, submit or cancel anything. - Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify. - Add one wildcard idea that fits the brief, from a shop I didn't name. Output: A shortlist of up to 5 gifts with price, delivery date and direct link. You'll know it worked when: I can order a gift I like in a couple of clicks. Before you finish: re-read my goal and constraints, check your answer against each one, and list anything you assumed or couldn't confirm.
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Before you start, ask me 1–3 short questions about anything important that's missing below. Keep them quick. Then do the task, checking in with me at the key points. Goal: Find a gift that matches a clear description and budget, with links I can buy from. What I can give you (ask for whatever's missing): - Who it's for and what they've asked for: [DETAILS] - My budget: [BUDGET] - Shops I like or want to avoid: [DETAILS] - When I need it by: [DATE] Rules: - Only show items within my budget, including shipping. - Give a direct product link for each, and check it's in stock and can arrive in time. - Show 5 options at most, with one line on why each fits. - Tell me where I'd actually check out, in this chat or on the shop's site. - Ask for my OK before you pay, book, send, submit or cancel anything. - Check facts that can change (prices, opening hours, dates, availability, rules) against the official source, and tell me anything you couldn't verify. - Add one wildcard idea that fits the brief, from a shop I didn't name. Output: A shortlist of up to 5 gifts with price, delivery date and direct link. You'll know it worked when: I can order a gift I like in a couple of clicks. Before you finish: re-read my goal and constraints, check your answer against each one, and list anything you assumed or couldn't confirm.
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Source
https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/chatgpt/articles/tried-shopping-gift-using-chatgpt-094202349.html
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