Autotrader has launched a new AI-driven search experience, the all-new ‘I’m looking for’ categories, which will allow buyers to refine their journey using natural, real-world descriptions, making it easier than ever to locate their perfect match.
Today’s consumers increasingly express what they want in natural language, rather than relying on unfamiliar industry-defined terminology or the increasingly complex alphanumerical soupe of new model names.
Autotrader’s Chief Product Officer, Karolina Edwards-Smajda, said: “With huge increase in choice entering the market, in terms of make, model, and fuel-type, the early stages of car buying can be overwhelming.
“We aren’t just giving consumers new buttons to click; we’re leveraging our deep data infrastructure and AI capabilities to fundamentally change how vehicles are discovered.
“By intelligently matching stock to the natural language buyers actually use, we are delivering a significantly smarter, more enjoyable search experience that connects our retailer partners’ stock with more informed and high-intent buyers.”
Autotrader has created 13 new search categories. Instead of relying on rigid keyword mapping, the platform uses Machine Learning Models and a dynamic data science-driven scoring system to accurately categorise vehicles.
By searching with broader ideas – whether that’s a ‘first car’ or a ‘sports car’ — the machine learning surfaces relevant cars they wouldn’t have necessarily found otherwise.
Customers can still combine these intuitive categories with practical, traditional filters like maximum price and mileage.
The AI-powered approach also allowed for the creation of enthusiast-focused categories like ‘OMG’.
This specific feature has sparked massive engagement across automotive communities, with users on motoring forums citing it as an “excellent filter” and that they “love the OMG option”.
The approach brings less familiar stock to a wider audience of highly engaged, high-intent buyers who might not have discovered them organically.
