{
  "id": 3040501,
  "title": "Apple starts testing AI shopping assistant in the Apple Store app",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/apple-starts-testing-ai-shopping-assistant-in-the-apple-store-app",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-24T14:07:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "9to5Mac",
    "slug": "9to5mac",
    "url": "https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/24/apple-store-app-is-testing-an-ai-shopping-assistant/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Apple began testing an AI-powered shopping assistant within the Apple Store app on iPhone and iPad, according to reports. The company is currently offering the feature to a select group of users as part of an \"Early Preview.\" In the Apple Store app, some users are now seeing a chat-style icon in the bottom right corner, replacing the standard search icon. This new interface allows users to either search for a product or engage in a conversation with a \"virtual shopping assistant.\" The assistant is capable of answering queries about Apple products, existing orders, connecting with a specialist, and more, or users can use predefined prompts.\n\nThe virtual shopping assistant is powered by artificial intelligence and may provide information that could be inaccurate. Apple notes that it may retain a transcript of conversations to ensure quality, system performance, and monitor for potential fraud. Currently, access to the shopping assistant is limited to a select group of users. Apple has not disclosed when it will expand the feature to a wider audience. Readers are invited to share their thoughts on the addition of an AI-powered assistant to the Apple Store app and whether they would utilize it.",
  "summary": "Last month, a report suggested Apple was working on a new AI-powered shopping assistant for the Apple Store app on iPhone and iPad. The company now appears to be rolling that out to select users as part of an “Early Preview.”",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MacRumors",
        "title": "Apple Store App Rolling Out 'Early Preview' of New Shopping Assistant",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/apple-store-app-rolling-out-early-preview-of-new-shopping-assistant",
        "published": "2026-08-24T12:56:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "AppleInsider",
        "title": "AI assistant is rolling out to the Apple Store app on iOS",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/ai-assistant-is-rolling-out-to-the-apple-store-app-on-ios",
        "published": "2026-08-24T13:39:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}