Bill Ready Talks AI‑Shopper Magic – Pinterest’s Future Is in 2‑D
On the Q2 earnings call, Pinterest CEO Bill Ready told investors that the platform is stepping up as an “AI‑enabled shopping assistant.” He playfully admitted the idea of AIs braving the “agentic web” – that future where bots shop on our behalf – is still a long way down the road.
The Bottom Line for Pinterest
- Users stash ideas and inspirations on Pinterest before they hit the checkout page.
- AI‑powered recommendations help turn those pins into purchases, but Ready thinks the “shopping‑in‑your‑sleep” scenario will be a “very, very long cycle.”
- Most customers still want to arm‑chair the shopping process; AIs shouldn’t have a blustery “I’ve bought it already” attitude.
Why the “Agentic Web” Is Still a Far‑Off Dream
Ready laughed, telling investors: “I think that notion of an agent just going and buying all the things for you without you doing anything… it’s going to take a longer time. Users won’t be ready to hand over everything, except maybe for some very utilitarian journeys.” The anchor material: Pinterest is a place where users feel the app understands them.
How Pinterest is Acting Like a Personal Shopper
When users say “Pinterest just gets me,” it’s because the app proactively suggests pins that match their style and interests. “It’s like having a personal shopping assistant who knows your taste,” Ready said, highlighting the platform’s AI recommendation engine.
The “Cambrian Moment” of AI
- Pinterest sees this era as a “Cambrian moment,” a burst of new, AI‑driven experiences.
- The company has already rolled out:
- Advanced recommendation & personalization systems.
- Proprietary multimodal AI that blends text and images.
- Visual and conversational search options.
- AI‑enhanced advertising efficiency.
All in all, Bill Ready wants investors to picture Pinterest as the “cool, AI‑smart friend” who nailing your style before you even know you want to shop – not the AI that’s grabbing your credit card and making purchases in your sleep.
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Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise.
Pinterest Faces an AI Content Crunch
It’s a bit of a wild ride over the past few months: Pinterest has been swamped with AI‑generated images that feel a little too “pasted‑together” for taste. The result? The platform had to roll out a brand‑new toolbox—think AI tags, filters and a whole lot of tech wizardry—to keep things from turning into a digital version of a junk drawer.
Why Users Are Getting a Little Grumpy
- Artificial‑intelligence artifacts are clogging the feed, making it a maze of mediocre art.
- The company introduced “AI‑label” tags to flag generated images and let you toggle them off if you’re a purist.
- Mass user bans popped up lately, and folks suspect the culprit is “over‑logn brain‑computing,” meaning the moderation AI isn’t pulling its weight.
And it’s not just Pinterest. Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr are seeing a similar headache—someone messed up their AI guardrails everywhere.
Ready’s Playbook: Winning the AI Talent Game
Enter Ready, the exec who’s all about “positivity” in the AI sphere. “We’re here to prove that good AI can be empowering,” he said, giving us a clue about Pinterest’s new mission.
Key takeaways:
- They’re keen on hiring smart, ethical AI developers who want to build technology that does good.
- It’s like a “positivity crusade”—they aim to be the friendly alternative to the usual tech grind.
Financials: Numbers That Don’t Quite Check Out
Pinterest’s recent earnings report had a lot of sweet headlines: $998 million in revenue—that’s a pretty solid tally. But the adjusted EPS of 33¢ slightly missed the analyst expectation of 35¢.
On a human‑interest note: Half of the monthly users belong to Gen Z, and male engagement shot up by 95% year‑over‑year. Imagine the buzz of kids who’re on their phones, hungry for a good photo, and the guys who think “too many pictures” gotta be great!
In short, Pinterest is on a roaring quest to clean up the feed, bring in brains, and keep you, the user, laughing (and scrolling) in equal measure. The battle against AI clutter is real, but their new tools show they’re pulling the rope with purpose—and maybe a dash of wit.