Hajra Naz
After a disappointing fourth-quarter earnings report, Pinterest CEO Bill Ready tried to reframe the conversation by drawing a comparison to ChatGPT.
Seeking to position Pinterest as a serious search player, not just a digital mood board, Ready argued that the platform processes more searches each month than the widely used AI chatbot. Citing third-party data, he said ChatGPT handles roughly 75 billion searches per month, while Pinterest sees about 80 billion searches and generates 1.7 billion monthly clicks.
“That makes us one of the largest search destinations in the world,” Ready said. “And importantly, more than half of those searches are commercial in nature, compared to approximately 2% for ChatGPT.”
The comparison came as Pinterest fell short of Wall Street expectations. For the fourth quarter, the company reported $1.32 billion in revenue, missing projections of $1.33 billion. Earnings per share came in at 67 cents, below the expected 69 cents.
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Pinterest also issued softer-than-anticipated first-quarter 2026 guidance, forecasting revenue between $951 million and $971 million, under the $980 million analysts had predicted.
The company attributed the shortfall to reduced advertiser spending, particularly in Europe, as well as the impact of a furniture tariff introduced in October that weighed on its home category. Executives warned that those headwinds could intensify in the current quarter.
The earnings miss came despite stronger-than-expected user growth. Monthly active users (MAUs) climbed 12% year over year to 619 million, surpassing Wall Street’s estimate of 613 million. Still, the positive user data wasn’t enough to reassure investors. Shares dropped 20% in after-hours trading.
Pinterest has long struggled to convert high engagement into sustained advertising revenue. Many users visit the platform to gather inspiration, plan future purchases, or explore ideas — not necessarily to complete transactions. That challenge could become more pronounced in the AI era, especially if advertisers shift budgets toward platforms that show clearer purchase intent, such as chatbot prompts asking for product recommendations.
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When asked how Pinterest plans to compete in an AI-powered shopping landscape, Ready pointed to the company’s strengths in visual search, discovery, and personalization. He said Pinterest can surface relevant products the moment users open the app, guiding them through the commercial journey organically.
“We’re helping them complete those commercial journeys without having to type in a single prompt,” Ready said.
He also highlighted Pinterest’s partnership with Amazon, which has streamlined checkout and reduced friction for buyers. While he suggested consumers may not yet be ready to let AI agents complete purchases on their behalf, he insisted Pinterest would be prepared if that shift occurs.
“That’ll actually be one of the easiest parts of the commercial journey to solve,” he said.
