Club Benefits
Ever since I started using AI chatbots to curate my hobbies, it’s been way easier to find new games to play, movies to watch and anime to binge.
But this time, I wanted something more practical: saving money.
I asked ChatGPT and Perplexity to help me track down the best deals — and see which one could actually shop smarter. After testing them on three of the items from my wishlist, one AI assistant clearly came out on top.
1. The Astro Bot PS5 DualSense Controller
I have to hand it to Sony — they really know how to make a PS5 DualSense controller so good-looking it makes my solid-colored ones feel embarrassing.
The one that got me this time? The Astro Bot DualSense (the “Joyful Edition,” thank you very much). That little mascot and his two PS5 platformers unlocked my inner child, so I’ve been dying to add the controller — especially with Astro Bot’s signature blue eyes staring back at you from the touchpad — to my growing DualSense collection.
But I wasn’t about to buy a used one.
I wanted a brand-new Astro Bot controller at a price that didn’t make me physically flinch before tapping “Buy Now.”
So I did what any responsible adult with a gaming habit would do: I asked AI to help find me the best deal.
First, I went to ChatGPT and asked it to find the lowest price for a new Astro Bot DualSense in the United States.
It came back with a ton of useful info, including:
- New/retail buying options
- Used/resale listings
- Higher collector pricing
- Notes on current pricing trends
And even photos of listings plus direct links to retailers like GameStop, Wafuu, eBay and Mercari. It practically gave me a full mini-shopping guide.
Next, I ran the same question through Perplexity to see if it could beat ChatGPT at deal-hunting.
Perplexity did what it does best: it cited sources as it listed the Astro Bot DualSense’s lowest prices and where to buy it. The links it pulled from places like PriceCharting, Target and Wafuu were genuinely helpful, especially because they showed exactly where the info came from.
But compared to ChatGPT, it felt more like “here are the sources” and less like “here’s the smartest way to buy this today.”
Winner: ChatGPT
ChatGPT wins round one easily. Not only did it give me more complete pricing info across new and resale listings, but it also added the bonus features I actually care about when I’m shopping: photo listings and direct purchase links from a bunch of retailers I already use.
And yes, I ended up going with GameStop, which shocked me almost as much as the deal itself.
They had the lowest price I found: $89.99 for regular customers, or $85.49 for GameStop Pro members — which made it way easier to justify the purchase without feeling like I needed to apologize to my credit card.
2. My first air fryer
I swear everyone in their mid-to-late 30s has discovered the wonders of air fryers and now uses them to cook basically everything they can think of.
Half my friends got one as a wedding gift. The other half bought one for themselves. And a few of them straight-up “borrowed” one from their parents.
Either way, I’ve officially reached the point where I can’t ignore it anymore. It’s time for me to join the air fryer craze and finally add one to my kitchen appliance closet.
But I’m not trying to spend a fortune on something I’m still learning how to use — so I decided to do what I’ve been doing a lot lately: let AI shop for me.
Round 1: ChatGPT
First up was ChatGPT. I asked it to find the best and cheapest air fryers available right now, and it came back with a flood of useful info that immediately made me feel like I wasn’t about to break the bank.
It even organized the picks into price tiers, like:
- Very budget-friendly (under $60)
- Mid-range affordable ($50 to $90)
- Bigger but still reasonable ($70 to $100+)
That breakdown alone was a lifesaver, because air fryer shopping gets overwhelming fast. ChatGPT also hit me with a few tips I actually needed, like:
- Pay attention to size vs price
- Don’t overpay just because it has a million features
- Watch for sales, because air fryers go on sale constantly
So far, so good.
Round 2: Perplexity
Next, I ran the same question through Perplexity — and it took a different approach. Instead of just giving me options, it grouped its recommendations into two categories: best overall performers and best budget options (cheap but still good).
It also explained that its picks were based on expert tests and buying guides, which made the whole thing feel a little more “I did research” and a little less “I’m guessing.”
Then it did something I really liked: it gave me a deal-hunting method.
For example, it pointed me toward the Ninja Max XL, then basically told me to compare prices across the usual suspects — Amazon, Walmart, Target, Costco/Sam’s, Kohl’s and Best Buy — to find the lowest one.
And when I told Perplexity my rough budget ($90) and how many people I cook for (three), it got even better. It dropped a chart on my screen with four strong options and even more buying tips to consider.
Winner: Perplexity
ChatGPT was super helpful — especially with the clean price tiers and quick tips — but Perplexity did more to convince me I was buying the right air fryer.
It narrowed things down based on my budget and the number of people I’m feeding, and that’s how I landed on the Cosori TurboBlaze, which I found on sale for $89.99.
ChatGPT’s photos and direct links are always helpfu, but Perplexity felt more like a friend who actually knows what they’re talking about when it comes to appliances.
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 bought new kicks, so I decided to treat myself to the brown/purple Nike Men’s Air Force 1 ’07.
First, I ran to ChatGPT to find the lowest price. It pulled up cheap listings from places like eBay, GOAT, Flight Club and Lyst, plus gave me price context based on size, condition and seller. When I narrowed it down to brand new, size 12, it came back with photos, direct buy links, a quick price chart and even prices from official retailers like Nike and Foot Locker.
Then I checked Perplexity. It gave me a solid overview of the sneaker, current low prices and where to look — and it even introduced me to stores I’d never heard of like Bait, Solefly and Lapstone & Hammer. StockX also stood out as one of the cheaper options.
Winner: ChatGPT.
ChatGPT triumphs once again. While Perplexity did a good job of introducing me to new sneaker sellers and finding me cheaper choices to consider, ChatGPT got the nod in my sneaker search thanks to the specified information and the chart it gave me, according to my size and the fact that I wanted a brand-new pair. It helped me lock in on eBay’s offer for $73, which definitely works with my budget.
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.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
More from Tom's guide
- ChatGPT is a terrible personal trainer — unless you use these 3 specific prompts
- I had ChatGPT write my resume, LinkedIn Summary and cover letter — then asked Gemini if I would get the job
- What’s more significant — AI or electricity? I tested 9 invention debates — and ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude couldn’t agree
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
