Perplexity to launch AI search service for e-commerce platforms

June Morita, general manager of Perplexity Asia Pacific (left), and Hwang Kyung-joo, CEO of Artist Company. (Kim Ho-young)

Perplexity AI Inc., a, is partnering with Artist Company Inc. to launch an AI product search service targeting South Korean online shopping platforms. The generative artificial intelligence (AI) company also plans to introduce an advertising service that integrates sponsored content into AI-generated related questions by the end of 2025.

Armed with powerful AI search capabilities, the company aims to expand its business reach and generate additional revenue. Once launched, the advertising service is expected to have a significant impact on Korea’s IT industry.

In a recent interview with Maeil Business Newspaper, June Morita, general manager of Perplexity Asia Pacific, noted that the company plans to introduce a shopping mall-specific AI search service in collaboration with Artist Company using Perplexity’s API, Sonar.

Artist Company, co-founded by actors Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung, is a talent management firm that also operates a B2B platform using big data and AI technologies. It merged with online advertising firm Artist United in January 2025, expanding its scope to include content, advertising, and marketing.

“This will be a solution that can be used on brand malls and retail platforms with in-house e-commerce,” Artist Company Chief Executive Officer Hwang Kyung-joo said. “Unlike simple keyword matching, it enables fully multimodal search - recognizing text within images, colors, and design. It can also summarize products using AI and analyze tens of thousands of review data points to extract the most relevant insights.”

According to the companies, the solution currently boasts an image recognition accuracy of 92 percent and text extraction accuracy of 95 percent. A beta version is scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2025, with a full launch expected by year-end.

The service will adopt a software-as-a-service (SaaS) subscription model aimed at small and medium-sized e-commerce businesses. Future upgrades will include a hyper-personalized AI agent that understands user intent and context to recommend the most suitable products.

If a user asks the shopping app, “Recommend items to go with what I wore during my last summer vacation,” for example, the AI will analyze vacation photos stored on the user’s phone to suggest matching hats, sunglasses, and more.

Beginning with the shopping search service, the two companies also plan to gradually roll out specialized AI services in online advertising, marketing, and entertainment.

Perplexity is also preparing to launch its own ad-integrated search service.

Morita noted that the company plans to release the Shop like Pro service globally, including in Korea, by the end of 2025 or early 2026.

Already available in the United States, this service differs from traditional search results by placing ads in related follow-up questions - not in the answers themselves.

These ads appear as “sponsored follow-up questions” and are labeled “sponsored.” Morita noted that it is different from conventional search engines that list advertised products first as it provides accurate information and pricing without ad influence.

Perplexity’s strategy reflects its broader push to diversify revenue streams beyond subscriptions by securing additional cash-generating services. The company has been expanding aggressively in the Korean market via collaborations with SK telecom Co., NH Investment & Securities Co., and BC Card Co.

Its potential partnership with Samsung Electronics Co. is also drawing attention. According to Bloomberg, the two companies are discussing incorporating Perplexity’s app and assistant features into future Samsung products such as the Galaxy S26.