When visiting Shrewd'm with a laptop, it can be pleasant to hold Command (or Ctrl with Windows) and '+' a few times. The site scales to allow any font size, and the larger font can be pleasant to read even for Shrewds with perfect sight! For luxury Shrewdness, you can combine that with setting the browser to full screen. You'll then find yourself Shrewding a lot.
- Manlobbi
Personal Finance Topics / Macroeconomic Trends and Risks
No. of Recommendations: 6
Some AI are going into sales.
"On Sept. 29, 2025, OpenAI and payment processor Stripe launched the Agentic Commerce Protocol. This technology lets you buy things instantly from Etsy within ChatGPT conversations. ... As marketing researchers who study how AI affects consumer behavior, we believe we’re seeing the beginning of the biggest shift in how people shop since smartphones arrived. Most people have no idea it’s happening. ... Now we’re entering “ambient AI,” where AI suggests things before you ask. ChatGPT monitors your calendar, reads your emails and offers recommendations without being asked. ... AI’s responses create what researchers call an “advice illusion.” When ChatGPT suggests three hotels, you don’t see them as ads. They feel like recommendations from a knowledgeable friend. But you don’t know whether those hotels paid for placement or whether better options exist that ChatGPT didn’t show you."
https://theconversation.com/openai-slipped-shoppin...
No. of Recommendations: 1
We all have to work out in our 20s which friends to trust. People are kicked to the curb.
AI shafting people for money? Kicked to the curb? No way! Way?
The suggestion stuff is not that powerful. It is also known as an annoyance.
No. of Recommendations: 1
I often use ChatGPT when shopping since it gives several different alternatives along with prices and links to vendors.
This is helpful.
Then I check with Google Gemini (which isn't as specific), Consumer Reports (from the library) and the in-depth consumer reviews on Amazon.com and Home Depot. This often leads me to buy a similar item from a different manufacturer.
I think it's obvious that ChatGPT is presenting ads. That doesn't make it useless.
Wendy
No. of Recommendations: 0
But you don’t know whether those hotels paid for placement or whether better options exist that ChatGPT didn’t show you.
Business opportunity !! Build and sell subscriptions to an AI that tells you if the info presented was a paid ad or a valid comparison of competing firms NOT paying for their promotion/sale.
No. of Recommendations: 0
Perplexity, on the Comet browser shows the specific sites it is looking at to make its judgment call. At least forewarned is forearmed.
Jeff
No. of Recommendations: 0
I think it's obvious that ChatGPT is presenting ads. That doesn't make it useless.
Prior to now, ChatGPT offered products were not sponsored. There were not lies to sell things. No lies in America to sell things? Impossible.
The other larger problem, other products are pushed down the page or out of sight. The options are narrowing.
