Pinterest CEO Bill Ready is attempting to reassure investors that the platform remains relevant in an AI-driven future, positioning the company not just as a social and inspirational site, but also as an “AI-enabled shopping assistant.”
His comments came during Pinterest’s second-quarter earnings call, where he sought to address concerns about the rise of the “agentic web” — a concept in which AI agents could eventually shop on behalf of users, bypassing platforms like Pinterest entirely.
Ready acknowledged that such a future could disrupt Pinterest’s position in the shopping funnel. The platform traditionally thrives at the early stage of the shopping journey, where users seek inspiration before making purchasing decisions. But in a world where AI could fully anticipate and fulfill users’ shopping needs, platforms that depend on user browsing and discovery could see engagement dwindle.
Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 19 (Feb 9 – May 2, 2026): big discounts for early bird.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and co-invest in great global startups.
Register for Tekedia AI Lab: From Technical Design to Deployment (next edition begins Jan 24 2026).
Still, Ready said that scenario is “a very, very long cycle” away, noting that most consumers are not yet ready to surrender full shopping control to an algorithm — except in simple, utilitarian cases.
Instead, he framed Pinterest as already functioning like a personal shopping assistant, even if users don’t describe it that way.
“When users say things like ‘Pinterest just gets me,’ it’s because they can open the app and get proactive recommendations that match their taste and style — just like a great personal shopping assistant would,” Ready said.
He described the current period for AI innovation as a “Cambrian moment,” pointing to Pinterest’s use of AI-powered personalization and recommendation systems, proprietary multimodal AI models that combine text and images, visual and conversational search features, and AI-driven ad targeting efficiencies.
However, the company is also navigating the downsides of AI. Pinterest has faced growing user frustration over an influx of low-quality, AI-generated content cluttering feeds. Earlier this year, it introduced labels for AI-created images and filters, allowing users to block generative AI pins. There have also been unexplained mass account bans, which users suspect are linked to overly aggressive automated moderation systems — an issue Pinterest has downplayed as an “internal error” but one that mirrors similar problems at Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr.
On the talent side, Ready said Pinterest is competing in the intense market for AI expertise by appealing to developers who want their work to have a “positive” impact. He stressed the company’s mission to use AI “responsibly,” positioning Pinterest as a healthier alternative to the toxicity often associated with other social platforms.
Wall Street reacted coolly to the earnings report. Pinterest posted revenue of $998 million, surpassing sales expectations, but adjusted earnings per share came in at 33 cents, below the 35 cents analysts had forecast. The company also highlighted its growing appeal to younger audiences, with over half of its monthly active users now from Gen Z, and male user numbers jumping 95% year-over-year.
Suppose investor concerns about the agentic web persist. In that case, Pinterest may face pressure to prove that its AI-enabled shopping assistant model can withstand the seismic shifts in e-commerce that next-generation AI could bring. However, Ready’s betting that human curiosity and the desire for inspiration will keep users browsing, not just buying, for years to come.