A while back, I had this perfect pair of Nike Lunarlon Flyknit mid-top sneakers.
Super light, sock-like fit. I could wear them to the office or out to dinner. They were that rare mix of comfort and style that just worked.
But now…they’re discontinued.
I wanted to look for something similar, but in black this time.
Instead of just Googling, I decided to try AI product search.
Here’s my customer experience scorecard:
Perplexity
Felt like a smarter search engine. It gave me quick, scannable options like the Adidas Kaptir 3.0, with pricing and links to Amazon or Adidas.com. Great for value seekers.
Great product recall, but zero personalization. No attempt to ask follow-up questions, gauge my preferences, or refine options based on aesthetics, occasion, or fit type. Felt transactional.
Score: 7/10
…
ChatGPT
This one acted like a well-informed friend. It gave me context on why certain sneakers might work, Common Projects for minimalists, and Nike Flyknit for function. It even surfaced customer reviews across community sites, and resale options like the original Nike Lunar Chukkas.
Score: 8/10
…
Claude
Organized and easy to follow. Grouped by brand (Nike, Adidas, Balenciaga), gave concise pros/cons, and included links.
But no visuals, and it felt more like reading a buying guide than shopping. No follow-ups, no context building, no nudging toward a decision.
Score: 5/10
…
Daydream
This one was different. It felt like shopping.
Real-time tiles. Visual-first. Conversational.
It asked questions, refined results, and got me closer to a product I’d buy.
Closest to a “personal shopper” AI I’ve seen. It mixed guided selling with dynamic visuals, felt like an elevated DTC site with a concierge layer. It didn’t just show me shoes, it interpreted what I was looking for based on more than just keywords.
Score: 9/10
…
As a customer, I wanted more than just “search results.”
I wanted a personalized experience that understood my style, my intent, and helped me make a decision, not just dump options on me.
The sneaker search was a fun exercise that signals if the AI is the new homepage, then the rules of merchandising, personalization, and guided selling all need to evolve.
And in that world of CX, context is everything.
