Pinterest has launched an experimental artificial intelligence-powered shopping and discovery platform called Ask Pinterest, as the company explores how conversational AI could transform product recommendations and user inspiration.
The announcement comes ahead of the 2026 Cannes Lions advertising festival, where AI-driven tools are expected to dominate discussions among marketers and technology companies.
Ask Pinterest is being introduced as a standalone web-based experience with limited access on desktop and mobile devices. The company said the experiment will allow it to test conversational, visual-first and agentic shopping experiences without affecting the core Pinterest application.
The platform is powered by Pinterest’s proprietary Taste Graph, an internal system that maps users’ interests, preferences and aesthetic tastes. By using these signals, Ask Pinterest aims to provide personalised recommendations and inspiration through natural language conversations.
According to Pinterest, the tool is designed to assist users with complex decisions that extend beyond traditional search queries. Examples include planning a budget-friendly dinner party, finding suitable gifts, or furnishing a home over time. The platform can also retain context across sessions, allowing users to continue ongoing shopping and discovery activities.
“We’re building AI experiences and infrastructure that tap into those signals in more useful and relevant ways,” Pinterest Chief Business Officer Lee Brown said.
The company said insights gained from the experiment would help shape future shopping and discovery features across its platform.
The launch comes as technology firms increasingly integrate AI-powered shopping and search tools into their products. Companies including Meta, Google and OpenAI have expanded conversational shopping capabilities in recent months, intensifying competition for consumer attention.
Pinterest also announced several AI-focused initiatives for advertisers. These include a beta AI assistant within Ads Manager, a new Performance+ Creative model designed to optimise ad selection, and the Pinterest Model Context Protocol (MCP), which enables campaign management through third-party AI agents.
