Apple's privacy policy reveals a Virtual Shopping Assistant feature for its Apple Store app. With 64% of consumers expecting to use AI shopping agents within two years, the move fits a broader retail push into AI shopping tools.
Alpha Score of 64 reflects moderate overall profile with strong momentum, weak value, strong quality, moderate sentiment.
Apple appears to be preparing a virtual shopping assistant for its Apple Store app, according to a passage in the company's App Store privacy policy. The policy, reported by Apple Insider on Wednesday, mentions a "Virtual Shopping Assistant" and describes the data it collects. A setting toggle for the feature does not yet exist within the Apple Store app, which was updated July 22 without any sign of the AI chat tool.
"Where the Apple Store app virtual shopping assistant is available, Apple collects and stores your account information, device identifiers, carrier information, chat information, and where enabled, location data to personalize the chat experience, provide relevant responses, and if you opt in, to improve the virtual shopping assistant," the policy said. The feature would be similar to the Apple Support Assistant, Apple Insider noted.
No official announcement has been made. The timing fits a broader retail push into AI-powered shopping tools. PYMNTS research, commissioned by Visa Acceptance Solutions, found that AI shopping assistants were the most frequently cited digital capability merchants plan to invest in during the next three years, named by 37% of retailers. The report, "Global Digital Shopping Index: The AI-Powered Shopper Has Arrived," also found that nearly half of online shoppers, 47%, used some type of AI during their most recent purchase. Consumers used the technology to compare products and research purchases. A separate finding showed 64% of consumers expect to use AI shopping agents within two years.
PYMNTS noted that the increase in AI investment has coincided with reduced emphasis on features like cross-channel shopping and stored payment methods. The changes suggest merchants are becoming more selective about where they devote development budgets and personnel, PYMNTS wrote. "Product discovery has long influenced purchasing decisions, and AI is becoming another point where merchants compete for consumer attention," the publication added.
The Apple Store app privacy policy update is the first concrete sign of the feature. The company has not commented on a launch timeline.
Drafted by a large language model from the source reporting linked above, then screened by automated publishing checks. It is not read by a journalist before publication. Some articles cite our Alpha Score. Verify prices and figures against the original source. Educational coverage, not personalized advice.