Exclusive: Disney Store is testing an AI shopping assistant that could change how you shop

Date:
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:30:00 +0000

Description:
Disney Store is beta testing an AI Personal Shopping Assistant for select iOS app users, bringing conversational product discovery directly into the shopping experience.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Disney Store is beta testing a new AI Personal Shopping Assistant The conversational tool can recommend products, gifts, and other items I tried it early, and it's very
knowledgeable about Disney's universes If you've used the Disney Store app recently, you'll know its been getting a steady stream of updates over the past few months from push notifications for limited-edition drops to a faster, easier-to-navigate interface.

Now Disney Store is taking another step forward with a feature designed to make finding the right product feel a little more intuitive and we have an exclusive first look. Its dubbed the Disney Store AI Personal Shopping Assistant, and its a conversational AI shopping tool built directly into the app. It lets users describe what theyre looking for in natural language
rather than relying on traditional keyword search, though the standard search experience will remain in the app.

The shopping assistant is currently live as a beta test for a select portion of signed-in users on the Disney Store iOS app in the United States. Disney says it will continue to learn from usage and refine the experience over
time, with expansion to Android, DisneyStore.com , and international markets planned for a later date. Latest Videos From Watch full video here: (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol) To see how well it works, I first asked it for
gift ideas for a niece who loves Jessie from Toy Story , along with some fun toys to go alongside a classic doll. After a short pause, it returned a curated set of suggestions tailored to that character, each with brief explanations for why they fit the prompt. Instead of standard search results, it felt more like a tailored recommendation flow. On the surface, the assistant doesn't feel like a separate feature bolted onto the app. Instead, it's built directly into the existing search experience. A new magnifying glass icon with a subtle sparkle now sits in the top-left corner of the home screen, taking you into search, where Disney prompts users with "Need ideas? Ask our AI Personal Shopping Assistant." You may like 5 prompts to try with ChatGPTs visual shopping upgrade Googles new Universal Cart tool uses Gemini AI to find deals and product restocks Apples App Store could soon become the agent store for AI apps, report claims

Once inside, it shifts into a conversational interface. In my testing, it opened with: "Hello Jacob, how can I help?" followed by a handful of
suggested prompts to get started. From there, it behaves more like a shopping assistant than a traditional search bar, designed to understand natural language requests whether you're looking for gifts, planning outfits for a Disney Parks visit, or tracking down merchandise tied to specific characters or franchises. (Image credit: Disney) In practice, it feels responsive and surprisingly aware of Disney's wider universe not just flagship characters like Mickey Mouse or Stitch, but also more obscure references, newer
additions to the catalog, and park-related and age-appropriate suggestions. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our
trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

"Our focus is always on enhancing the guest journey and meeting our fans
where they are," said Patrick Sager, VP Disney Stores. "By introducing an AI-powered shopping assistant to the Disney Store app, we're blending storytelling with technology, delivering smarter recommendations, seamless discovery, and a more connected experience, making it easier than ever for guests to find the perfect product." Items can be expanded for more detail or added directly to a shopping bag, reducing friction between browsing and purchase. The assistant also encourages exploration through follow-up
prompts. After an initial query, it suggests refinements like "show Jessie dolls" or "show more plush toys," helping users narrow results without starting over. Of course, you can also type a follow-up or take it in an entirely new direction.

Disney says the assistant was developed in-house and built within its own ecosystem of characters, stories, and products. No guest data was used during development, and that remains the case going forward. What to read next
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Beyond the conversational layer, Disney has also built in standard usability features: thumbs up/down ratings which will likely be used to refine the experience over time the ability to clear the chat at any time, and a light and dark mode toggle.

The Disney Store AI Personal Shopping Assistant feels like an early pilot feature in Disneys broader push into AI-powered experiences one that follows recently announced AI enhancements within the My Disney Experience app at
Walt Disney World, as well as Disneys departure from its deal with OpenAI . While those efforts focus on planning and in-park experiences, the Disney Store implementation brings the same idea into retail. The common thread is that Disney appears to be exploring how AI can support different parts of its ecosystem, using conversational tools to surface products while still keeping everything anchored in the characters and worlds that define the brand.

At this stage, it still feels experimental in places rather than fully defined, but its clear Disney has put thought into how it integrates into the existing shopping experience rather than simply layering on a generic AI chatbot . Im very curious to see how it evolves as new characters or franchises are introduced, as we see new product launches, and as we get closer to the holiday season. Who knows, maybe Disney will add a deal alert
or restock functionality.

If you give it a go, let me know what you think of the experience in the comments below. Today's best Disney Plus, Disney+ Bundle and Hulu deals Disney+ Monthly Standard With Ads 4.99 4.99 /mth View We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Follow TechRadar on Google
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