Ever since I began utilizing AI chatbots to curate my hobbies, it’s been approach simpler to search out new video games to play, motion pictures to observe and anime to binge.
However this time, I needed one thing extra sensible: saving cash.
I requested ChatGPT and Perplexity to assist me monitor down the most effective offers — and see which one may truly store smarter. After testing them on three of the gadgets from my wishlist, one AI assistant clearly got here out on prime.
1. The Astro Bot PS5 DualSense Controller
I have to hand it to Sony — they actually know find out how to make a PS5 DualSense controller so handsome it makes my solid-colored ones really feel embarrassing.
The one which received me this time? The Astro Bot DualSense (the “Joyful Version,” thanks very a lot). That little mascot and his two PS5 platformers unlocked my inside baby, so I’ve been dying so as to add the controller — particularly with Astro Bot’s signature blue eyes staring again at you from the touchpad — to my rising DualSense assortment.
However I wasn’t about to purchase a used one.
I needed a brand-new Astro Bot controller at a worth that didn’t make me bodily flinch earlier than tapping “Purchase Now.”
So I did what any accountable grownup with a gaming behavior would do: I requested AI to assist discover me the most effective deal.
First, I went to ChatGPT and requested it to search out the bottom worth for a brand new Astro Bot DualSense in the US.
It got here again with a ton of helpful information, together with:
- New/retail shopping for choices
- Used/resale listings
- Larger collector pricing
- Notes on present pricing traits
And even images of listings plus direct hyperlinks to retailers like GameStop, Wafuu, eBay and Mercari. It virtually gave me a full mini-shopping information.
Subsequent, I ran the identical query by means of Perplexity to see if it may beat ChatGPT at deal-hunting.
Perplexity did what it does greatest: it cited sources because it listed the Astro Bot DualSense’s lowest costs and the place to purchase it. The hyperlinks it pulled from locations like PriceCharting, Goal and Wafuu have been genuinely useful, particularly as a result of they confirmed precisely the place the information got here from.
However in comparison with ChatGPT, it felt extra like “listed below are the sources” and fewer like “right here’s the neatest approach to purchase this in the present day.”
Winner: ChatGPT
ChatGPT wins spherical one simply. Not solely did it give me extra full pricing information throughout new and resale listings, nevertheless it additionally added the bonus options I truly care about once I’m procuring: picture listings and direct buy hyperlinks from a bunch of shops I already use.
And sure, I ended up going with GameStop, which shocked me virtually as a lot because the deal itself.
That they had the bottom worth I discovered: $89.99 for normal clients, or $85.49 for GameStop Professional members — which made it approach simpler to justify the acquisition with out feeling like I wanted to apologize to my bank card.
2. My first air fryer
I swear everyone in their mid-to-late 30s has discovered the wonders of air fryers and now makes use of them to cook dinner principally all the pieces they will consider.
Half my associates received one as a marriage reward. The opposite half purchased one for themselves. And some of them straight-up “borrowed” one from their mother and father.
Both approach, I’ve formally reached the purpose the place I can’t ignore it anymore. It’s time for me to affix the air fryer craze and eventually add one to my kitchen equipment closet.
However I’m not attempting to lay our a fortune on one thing I’m nonetheless studying find out how to use — so I made a decision to do what I’ve been doing quite a bit these days: let AI store for me.
Spherical 1: ChatGPT
First up was ChatGPT. I requested it to search out the most effective and most cost-effective air fryers out there proper now, and it got here again with a flood of helpful information that instantly made me really feel like I wasn’t about to interrupt the financial institution.
It even organized the picks into worth tiers, like:
- Very budget-friendly (underneath $60)
- Mid-range inexpensive ($50 to $90)
- Larger however nonetheless affordable ($70 to $100+)
That breakdown alone was a lifesaver, as a result of air fryer procuring will get overwhelming quick. ChatGPT additionally hit me with a number of ideas I truly wanted, like:
- Take note of dimension vs worth
- Don’t overpay simply because it has one million options
- Look ahead to gross sales, as a result of air fryers go on sale consistently
To date, so good.
Spherical 2: Perplexity
Subsequent, I ran the identical query by means of Perplexity — and it took a unique method. As a substitute of simply giving me choices, it grouped its suggestions into two classes: greatest general performers and greatest finances choices (low cost however nonetheless good).
It additionally defined that its picks have been based mostly on skilled assessments and shopping for guides, which made the entire thing really feel just a little extra “I did analysis” and rather less “I’m guessing.”
Then it did one thing I actually preferred: it gave me a deal-hunting methodology.
For instance, it pointed me towards the Ninja Max XL, then principally informed me to match costs throughout the standard suspects — Amazon, Walmart, Goal, Costco/Sam’s, Kohl’s and Best Buy — to search out the bottom one.
And once I informed Perplexity my tough finances ($90) and the way many individuals I cook dinner for (three), it received even higher. It dropped a chart on my display screen with 4 robust choices and much more shopping for tricks to think about.
Winner: Perplexity
ChatGPT was tremendous useful — particularly with the clear worth tiers and fast ideas — however Perplexity did extra to persuade me I used to be shopping for the suitable air fryer.
It narrowed issues down based mostly on my finances and the variety of individuals I’m feeding, and that’s how I landed on the Cosori TurboBlaze, which I discovered on sale for $89.99.
ChatGPT’s images and direct hyperlinks are at all times helpfu, however Perplexity felt extra like a good friend who truly is aware of what they’re speaking about in terms of home equipment.
3. The Nike Men’s Air Force 1 ‘07 Sneaker
Yeah, I’m a sneakerhead — one side of my bedroom is basically a shrine to Puma, Converse, Nike and Adidas. It’s been a minute since I purchased new kicks, so I made a decision to deal with myself to the brown/purple Nike Males’s Air Pressure 1 ’07.
First, I ran to ChatGPT to search out the bottom worth. It pulled up low cost listings from locations like eBay, GOAT, Flight Membership and Lyst, plus gave me worth context based mostly on dimension, situation and vendor. After I narrowed it all the way down to model new, dimension 12, it got here again with images, direct purchase hyperlinks, a fast worth chart and even costs from official retailers like Nike and Foot Locker.
Then I checked Perplexity. It gave me a strong overview of the sneaker, present low costs and the place to look — and it even launched me to shops I’d by no means heard of like Bait, Solefly and Lapstone & Hammer. StockX additionally stood out as one of many cheaper choices.
Winner: ChatGPT.
ChatGPT triumphs as soon as once more. Whereas Perplexity did a great job of introducing me to new sneaker sellers and discovering me cheaper selections to contemplate, ChatGPT received the nod in my sneaker search because of the desired info and the chart it gave me, in keeping with my dimension and the truth that I needed a brand-new pair. It helped me lock in on eBay’s supply for $73, which positively works with my finances.
Overall Winner: ChatGPT
Saving money is always the goal — especially when you live in a wallet-draining place like New York City. But thanks to ChatGPT and Perplexity, I finally pulled the trigger on three items that had been sitting on my wishlist forever.
After testing both tools, ChatGPT ended up saving me the most cash — and the biggest surprise is that it did it on two of the priciest items I was shopping for.
What pushed it over the edge was how practical it felt: photo listings, direct purchase links and recommendations tailored to exactly what I asked for. If you’re trying to find the best price fast, ChatGPT is the better pick for deal-hunting.
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