You've got 47 tabs open comparing noise-cancelling headphones. You've read 12 Reddit threads. You're now comparing decibel ratings like you're training to be an audiophile. You still don't know which one to buy.

Most of us approach product research like we're writing a dissertation (except the dissertation is on washing machines. Fun!).

We compare spec sheets for features we don't understand. We build mental matrices. We read reviews that contradict each other. We learn that every brand has a proprietary name for "the thing that makes water spin differently" and pretend we know what that means.

The problem isn't lack of information. It's that we're drowning in it, keyword-searching like cavemen ("best microwave 2025"), and somehow still ending up more confused than when we started.

So we either burn six hours trying to become mini-experts on tumble dryer ventilation systems, or we panic-buy the wrong thing and spend the next five years being woken at 3am by a robot vacuum that sounds like a jet engine having a major malfunction.

There's a better way, and it doesn't involve becoming fluent in spec-sheet jargon.

Use this exact prompt in Perplexity (or Google's AI mode) as your personal shopping concierge:

I need to buy [specific product] for [your situation]. My budget is [amount], and my main priority is [what matters most—e.g., durability, ease of use, quiet operation, compatibility with X]. [Optional context: e.g., 'I have a small apartment' / 'I'm not very tech-savvy' / 'I need it to work with my existing iPhone ecosystem'] 1. Recommend 3-5 options that fit my criteria. 2. Show them in a comparison table with: price, key specs, major pros/cons, and who each is best suited for. 3. Flag any important trade-offs I should know about. 4. Tell me which one you'd pick if you were me, and why.

Then (and this is the bit most people skip) actually have a conversation with it like it's your slightly nerdy mate who reads spec sheets for fun:

"What's the actual difference between option A and B?"​ "Is the extra $200 for the Pro version worth it, or is that just marketing bollocks?" "I've also got a drawer full of PlayStation 4 discs - does that change anything?"

The AI handles the complexity and the proprietary nonsense. You make the final call with actual clarity instead of tab-induced rage.

Try it this week.

If you're sitting on a purchase decision right now (or have 23 tabs slowly killing your laptop battery), this will help you close the loop (and the tabs).

Here's how:

• Screenshot this prompt or save it somewhere you'll actually find it again

• Next time you're researching anything (software, appliances, that thing you saw on Instagram) paste it into Perplexity or google.com (make sure you click "AI mode" in the search box).

• Give it proper context: your budget, your constraints, what actually matters to you

And as a bonus: Once you've picked the product, ask:

"Where can I buy [product name] in Australia? Show me current prices and any active discount codes."

This saves another 30 minutes of manually checking eight retailer websites that all have slightly different prices for reasons no one can explain.

Know someone currently in product research hell?

Forward this to them before they spend their entire weekend becoming an accidental expert on washing machine drum sizes.

Cheers

Amantha