{
  "id": 14230242,
  "title": "I let an AI assistant shop for me and the reviewers got nothing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/i-let-an-ai-assistant-shop-for-me-and-the-reviewers-got-nothing",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-13T14:45:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91621388/i-let-ai-assistant-shop-me-reviewers-got-nothing"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new breed of AI assistants, such as Muse, Dots, and Grok Bot, have emerged, promising to streamline various aspects of daily life. These virtual helpers can handle tasks like researching trips, booking restaurants, and selecting healthcare plans. To test one of these assistants, Muse – developed by Meta and unveiled on September 8 – was tasked with recommending a robot vacuum. Muse provided a few options, allowing the user to make purchases directly through links provided. When asked about the selection process, Muse revealed it considered both retail websites and review roundups. It placed significant emphasis on Vacuum Wars, a site known for extensive hands-on testing in the vacuum category. However, Vacuum Wars primarily generates revenue through affiliate links, some of which lead to Amazon, which is inaccessible within Muse. Other review sites, including Wirecutter, PCMag, and Consumer Reports, were notably absent from Muse's recommendations, likely due to their hostile attitudes towards AI companies using their content. The assistant directed the user to Best Buy, Target, and Dreame, but no Amazon links were present in the recommendations. Vacuum Wars' revenue model, relying on affiliate links from Amazon, further complicates the situation, as Amazon's presence within Muse is restricted. As personal assistants like Muse gain traction, their reliance on specific retailers could create a fragmented path for users seeking product recommendations, potentially impacting the revenue streams of review sites that depend on affiliate links.",
  "summary": "There’s a new kind of AI in town, and it’s all about you. Which is to say you, personally—these are the new personal AI assistants that go by names like Muse , Dots , and Grok Bot , and they’re ready to dismantle much of the friction in your life. Need to research a trip, book a restaurant, or choose between healthcare plans? With the right context, they can handle it all for you, complete with a…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}