What is AI search?
AI search is the umbrella term for site search that understands shoppers instead of just matching letters. It covers typo tolerance ("snekers" finds sneakers), synonyms ("pullover" finds hoodies), semantic matching ("summer dress" finds sundresses), and conversational queries ("running shoes under $50" becomes a category plus a price filter).
How does AI search work?
Say a shopper types "runing shoes under $50". Plain keyword search sees a misspelled word and returns nothing. AI search reads the query in three moves: it fixes the typo, recognizes "running shoes" as a category, and turns "under $50" into a price filter. The shopper sees the $39 trainers and the $48 racers, never the $120 pair outside her budget. One messy human query, answered the way a good store clerk would.
On Shopify stores
Keyword-only search is literal: it matches typed letters against the words in your catalog, and any gap becomes a dead end. AI search layers understanding on top. That matters most on phones, where typos multiply, and in stores whose product names shoppers don't know ("Merino Quarter-Zip" for the shopper who wants "a warm top"). The proof shows up in the searches that used to return nothing and now return a sale.
Related terms
AI search with Sledge
Sledge's search ships every layer of AI search: typo tolerance, synonyms you write plus AI-suggested ones you approve, semantic matching, and conversational queries parsed into real category and price filters. Search analytics show which terms shoppers actually type, and empty searches get suggestions and popular products instead of a blank page.
14-day free trial · No code · Works with any theme · Uninstalls clean