Apple is quietly testing a new AI-powered shopping assistant inside the Apple Store app, rolling the feature out to a limited set of users as an "Early Preview." Some users now see a chat-style icon in the bottom right corner of the app, replacing the traditional search icon, with the feature yet to receive an official announcement from the company.
The assistant appears designed to handle product research and order-related questions directly in the app. Users can ask about Apple products, existing Apple Store orders, trade-in values, payment options, and more, or tap one of the common topics on the page to begin.
The assistant also connects shoppers with a specialist when needed, according to the interface preview.
Suggested prompts in the early version include queries about the latest Apple products, finding a trade-in value, explaining carrier offers, choosing an Apple Watch, iPhone monthly payments, and comparing the iPad lineup. Apple's fine print indicates the virtual shopping assistant is powered by artificial intelligence and may provide answers containing inaccuracies, with transcripts potentially retained for quality, system performance, and fraud monitoring.
Access to the shopping assistant is not available to everyone. Apple says the feature is currently limited to select users in the Early Preview, with no word on when it might expand more broadly.
The company has yet to officially announce the feature, suggesting it remains in quiet testing with a smaller number of users for now.
