Put Down the Ikea Catalog, the New Ikea AI Assistant Is Here to Help (Sort of)
Custom GPTs, introduced by OpenAI, are tailored versions of the ChatGPT model that can be created for specific purposes. They can be private for only a single user or made publicly available in the GPT marketplace available to paying users. At first, many of the custom GPTs were created by single individuals or small companies. Now, a few large companies are also releasing their own.
Ikea recently launched the Ikea AI assistant, designed to provide design inspiration and help customers with interior design. In ChatGPT, I asked it what it could do. Here is what it said:
I can assist you with a variety of tasks related to shopping or product discovery at IKEA, including:
Finding Products: I can help you search for IKEA products based on your description. Whether you're looking for furniture, home accessories, or specific items like outdoor mats, big corner sofas, Hemnes beds, and white chairs, I can find what you need.
Product Availability: I can check if an item is available for home delivery to your zip code or if it's available for pickup at your nearest IKEA store.
Creating Checkout Links: If you've decided on what to buy, I can create a checkout link for IKEA products of your interest.
Product Recommendations: Using image recognition, I can identify likely IKEA products from an image you provide.
Special Categories Search: I can search for IKEA products by special categories like top sellers, new products, and more.
Store Information: I can provide information on IKEA stores, including location details and opening hours.
Content Search: If you're looking for how-to articles, tips, guides, or design ideas for any household room, I can find relevant IKEA-published content for you.
Image Generation: I can create images based on your prompts for home furnishing room designs in the IKEA style.
Let me know how I can assist you today!
My Experimentation
So I tried it out. I went to the “Explore GPTs” option in ChatGPT and searched for the assistant, which was easy to find. All GPTs have four example queries to help users understand how to use them. I clicked on “How can I better organize my bathroom?” I was expecting to have an interactive dialogue with the chatbot. Instead, it regurgitated what looked like pre-written marketing copy with a link to their website.
Okay, fail. But, not deterred, I tried again. I asked a question I have actually always wondered: “I have a Kallax. If I create storage cubes with record covers on the front of them, will they fit into the unit's individual shelves?” To my surprise, I received an in-depth answer.
The Kallax shelving unit is known for its versatility and is designed to accommodate a wide range of storage options, including the popular Kallax inserts and boxes. If you're considering creating custom storage cubes with record covers on the front, it's essential to consider the dimensions of the Kallax shelf spaces to ensure a good fit.
Each cube space in a Kallax unit typically measures about 33x33 cm (approximately 13x13 inches) in height and width, with a depth that can vary slightly depending on the specific model of the Kallax unit. Given these dimensions, your custom storage cubes should be designed to fit within these measurements.
Record covers, which are usually around 12.375 inches square for LP records, could fit well on the front of a cube designed to slot into a Kallax unit, provided the total dimensions of the cube (including any additional materials used to construct the cube) do not exceed the Kallax shelf space dimensions.
It's a creative idea to customize your Kallax unit with record cover storage cubes, adding a personal touch while ensuring your records are easily accessible and prominently displayed. Just be sure to measure carefully and plan your design to fit within the Kallax dimensions for a seamless and functional addition to your shelving unit.
Having seen pictures of this on Pinterest, I think this answer is correct. I then asked it to draw me a picture of what this could look like.
I guess that sort of looks like a Kallax with records.
I went on to chat with it about Murphy beds (which they do not carry, but it suggested alternatives), organization, furniture assembly, color design, product repair, and interior design. For Ikea-specific questions, it tended to link to the website. For more general design questions, I felt the information could have come from any source, like the general ChatGPT. At no point did the bot ever inquire about my tastes, interests, or home, making it feel stale. While in the store, it might be difficult to find an Ikea employee to discuss questions with, but anytime I have, they have always been inquisitive to help me make the right purchases.
Conclusion
Introducing custom GPTs like the Ikea AI assistant represents a significant shift in how companies engage with their customers, leveraging AI to provide tailored advice and solutions. The Ikea AI assistant attempts to show how AI can enhance the shopping experience by offering a wide range of services from product discovery to design inspiration. However, the interaction with the Ikea AI assistant also highlights some limitations, such as the lack of personalized engagement that one might experience with a human sales assistant. Despite these challenges, the potential for AI to transform customer service is undeniable. As AI technology continues to evolve, I expect these tools to become even more sophisticated, offering more personalized and interactive experiences. For now, the Ikea AI assistant and similar custom GPTs serve as a promising glimpse into the future of retail and customer service, where AI plays a central role in bridging the gap between digital convenience and personalized service.
