Find a product with AI: search, compare and verify products, suppliers and datasheets
Need a chemical anchor for cracked concrete, a sump pump or a humidity sensor? AI can scan dozens of sites, build a comparison table and suggest alternatives in minutes. It does not replace the manufacturer's official datasheet and approvals, and this guide shows how to combine the two.
01Like a keen intern in a technical library
Think of AI product search as a keen intern you send into a huge technical library. They come back fast with a pile of catalogues, a tidy comparison table and three alternatives. But sometimes they bring last year's catalogue, or fall for a product because someone stuck a bright label on it. The final call, and the check against the datasheet and the approval, is yours.
02How it works in practice
- 1RequirementDescribe the need: load, material, standard, budget, availability in Israel
- 2ScanThe tool searches manufacturer, distributor and shop sites and cites sources
- 3CompareA table of products, prices, suppliers and alternatives
- 4VerifyOpen the official datasheet and check ETA, CE and the Israeli standard mark
- 5DecideAsk the supplier for a current written quote
03Free route vs paid route
Free: sourced search and basic comparison
- Perplexity free: practically unlimited basic searches, with links to sources
- ChatGPT: web search and shopping research also work for signed-in Free users
- Gemini: Deep Research is included in the free plan, with a limited allowance
- Claude free: web search included; upload a PDF datasheet and ask for a summary
- Copilot in Edge: price history, comparison and price tracking on supported product pages
Limit: Small deep-research allowances, some shopping features reach the US first, and cheaper plans may show ads.
Paid: deep research and a browser agent
About 20 USD a month (ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, Google AI Pro, per their pricing pages)
- Research / Deep Research with higher allowances: a comparison report from dozens of sources
- Claude in Chrome or ChatGPT Work's cloud browser: an agent that opens supplier sites, fills quote forms and collects data
- Gemini in Chrome with auto browse on Google AI Pro
- Stronger models that read long datasheets more accurately
When paying is worth it: When you compare products every week, need tidy reports for clients, or want an agent to gather quotes from several suppliers.
04The leading tools for product search and comparison
Perplexity
Perplexity AIBest at: Fast answers with numbered sources: great for finding datasheets, suppliers and alternatives.
Practically unlimited basic searches, a few Pro searches a day and one Research query a month.
Pro: advanced models, extended research and more file uploads (check current price).
Add-ons that help 4
- Add-onCometPerplexity's free AI browser, whose assistant can act on websites for you.free
- ModeResearchDeep research that condenses dozens of sources into one report.paid
- SettingSpacesA folder with standing instructions, e.g. always name an Israeli supplier and a datasheet link.included
- Add-onInstant BuyBuy from inside the chat, currently for US users only.free
ChatGPT
OpenAIBest at: Shopping research builds a personal buyer's guide after a few clarifying questions, and normal search shows product cards.
Web search and shopping research for signed-in users; the Go plan may include ads.
Plus at 20 USD a month: higher limits and ChatGPT Work with a cloud browser.
Add-ons that help 4
- ModeShopping researchPick it from the + menu and get a sourced comparison guide.included
- ModeCloud browser (ChatGPT Work)A remote browser that reads sites, fills forms and asks before paying.paid
- ModeDeep researchA long cited report, good for comparing suppliers and standards.included
- SettingMemoryRemembers preferences (e.g. prefer Israeli suppliers); can be turned off in settings.included
Best at: Google Shopping data: prices, availability, comparison tables and price tracking.
Gemini and Deep Research on the free plan; AI Mode in Google Search.
Google AI Pro at 19.99 USD a month: Gemini in Chrome with auto browse and higher limits.
Add-ons that help 4
- Add-onGemini in ChromeA side-panel assistant that reads the open page and compares across tabs.paid
- ModeDeep ResearchA structured report from dozens of sites, exportable to Google Docs.free
- Add-onPrice trackingAlerts you when the price drops into your range.free
- GPT/GemCustom GemA Gem with standing instructions for checking technical products.included
Claude
AnthropicBest at: Careful reading of long datasheets and a structured technical comparison between products.
Web search and PDF uploads.
Pro at 20 USD a month: Research and Claude in Chrome.
Add-ons that help 4
- ModeResearchA few minutes of sourced research, switched on from the + button.paid
- ExtensionClaude in ChromeAn agent in Chrome that browses supplier sites, collects data and fills forms.paid
- SettingProjectsA project holding catalogues and datasheets from the manufacturers you work with.included
- ConnectorGoogle DriveAccess to catalogues and quotes you already saved.included
Microsoft Copilot
MicrosoftBest at: Price history, tracking and comparison right on the product page in Edge.
Copilot and Edge shopping features free with a Microsoft account.
Microsoft 365 plans add Copilot in Word and Excel to write up the comparison.
Add-ons that help 3
- Add-onCopilot in EdgeA side pane with price history, tracking and review checks.free
- SettingShopping in Microsoft EdgeA setting under privacy and search that must be on to see shopping features.free
- Add-onCopilot in ExcelTurns the product list into a comparison table with formulas.paid
05Which tool for which search
| What you need | Recommended tool | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Anchor datasheet and ETA | Perplexity or Claude with search | Links straight to the manufacturer's PDF, then you read it |
| Compare 3–5 pumps by flow and head | ChatGPT shopping research | Asks clarifying questions and builds a table |
| Current price and price-drop alerts | Google AI Mode or Copilot in Edge | Based on shop data, show price history |
| Suppliers and importers in Israel | Perplexity or Gemini, asking explicitly for Israel | Search Hebrew sites and return sources |
| Replacement for a discontinued product | Claude Research or Deep Research | Compares technical properties, not just brand names |
| Comparing engineering software | ChatGPT or Claude with search | Summarise licensing, file formats and standards support |
| Collecting quotes from several sites | Claude in Chrome or ChatGPT Work | An agent that goes site by site, under supervision |
06Example: chemical anchor for cracked concrete
07Example: submersible sump pump
08Example: collecting quotes for sensors
09Start in 5 minutes
- 1
Write a technical requirement
Three to five lines: what the product must do, environment, required standard, budget, and whether you need a supplier in Israel.
- 2
Turn on search
In Claude and ChatGPT make sure web search is on; Perplexity always searches. For a deep check pick Research.
- 3
Ask for a table with sources
Require a column with the official datasheet link and a column for 'not found'.
- 4
Open the sources
Click every link. Check it is the manufacturer's site, the version is current, and the values in the table match the page.
- 5
Check approvals
ETA and CE against the document itself; the Israeli standard mark with the Standards Institution of Israel when the product requires it.
- 6
Close with the supplier
Price, lead time and project fit in a written quote, not from the chat.
10What to take from AI and what to check yourself
AI does well
- Quickly finds makers, models and alternatives
- Builds a tidy comparison table
- Summarises a long datasheet
- Suggests questions you had not thought of
- Finds distributors and importers in Israel
You must check
- Loads and dimensions, only from the official datasheet
- Validity of the ETA, CE and standard mark
- Current price and stock, from the supplier
- Whether a result is sponsored or an affiliate link
- Whether the product fits your project conditions
11Common pitfalls
Sponsored results
Some plans show ads, and many comparison sites live on affiliate fees. Ask for manufacturer sources, not only shops.
Outdated specs
Models change and old catalogues stay online. Check the date and revision on the datasheet.
Invented values
A model may fill a missing number with full confidence. Ask for 'not found' instead of a guess.
Wrong approval
An ETA for non-cracked concrete does not cover cracked concrete, and approval of one product in a family does not cover the rest of it.
Availability in Israel
Many shopping features reach the US first, and displayed prices exclude customs and shipping.
An agent that buys on its own
Do not leave payment details with an unsupervised agent; the tools ask before paying, so read the request.
12FAQ
Which tool is best for finding a datasheet?
Perplexity or Claude with web search return a direct link to the PDF. Then open the file and check the values yourself.
Can I trust the price AI shows?
Not as a final price. OpenAI itself notes prices and stock may be outdated. Settle the price in a written supplier quote.
Are the results sponsored?
OpenAI and Perplexity say their product results are not ads and that ads are shown separately. Still, the sources the tool reads may be affiliate sites, so prefer the manufacturer's site.
How do I check an anchor is approved?
Find the ETA on the manufacturer's site, check it is valid and covers your use (cracked concrete, seismic, diameter), and that the product carries CE marking. Where required, check the Israeli standard mark.
When is paying worth it?
When you compare products regularly, need long research reports, or want an agent to go through supplier sites. For occasional searches, the free plans are enough.