I write these guides from the situations that come up in real Shopify work. The answer is usually less about a fashionable tool and more about choosing a boundary the team can live with.
Ask what customers are struggling to choose
A shopping assistant is not automatically the answer. If customers cannot find the right product because the catalogue is broad, the filters are weak, or the differences are hard to explain, a clearer product-finding journey may solve the problem more simply.
Use a shopping assistant when the conversation matters
A conversational tool can be useful when customers need help weighing several details, describing a specific situation, or finding a product that depends on context. It needs accurate product information, a clear boundary, and a route to a human or a normal product page when the question falls outside that boundary.
Improve the basics first
Before adding a new layer, check the catalogue, product data, collection structure, search, filters, and comparison content. A better product journey may be a guided finder, clearer recommendations, or more useful copy. The best solution is the smallest one that helps customers make a decision.