As part of its aggressive push into “conversational commerce,” Flipkart is set to launch SLAP (Shop Like a Pro) in the coming weeks. Positioned as a “digital shopping concierge,” SLAP is designed to bridge the gap between traditional search filters and the experience of talking to a knowledgeable store assistant.
What is SLAP?
SLAP is a generative AI-powered assistant that allows users to find products through natural, free-flowing conversations. Instead of manually selecting dozens of filters (e.g., “Cotton,” “Blue,” “Under ₹2,000”), users can simply tell the assistant their intent: “Find me a comfortable cotton outfit for a beach wedding in Goa that looks premium but costs less than ₹3,000.”
Key Features of the SLAP Assistant:
- Standalone Experience: While integrated with the Flipkart ecosystem, SLAP will feature its own dedicated interface to provide a clutter-free, chat-first shopping journey.
- Contextual Memory: The AI remembers previous parts of the conversation. If you ask about “batteries” after looking at “digital cameras,” SLAP understands you need batteries for that specific camera.
- Multimodal Search: Beyond text, SLAP integrates “Visual Vibe” search—allowing users to snap a photo or upload a screenshot and ask the AI to find similar items or matching accessories.
- Indic Language Core: Built with India’s diversity in mind, SLAP supports English, Hindi, and Hinglish at launch, with five more regional languages (Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, and Marathi) expected by mid-2026.
The Strategy: Beyond Search and Filters
The launch of SLAP signals Flipkart’s transition from a “catalog-centric” platform to an “intent-centric” one.
| Feature | Traditional Search | SLAP AI Assistant |
| Input | Keywords & Filters | Natural Language & Voice |
| Logic | Exact Match / Tags | Intent & Context Reasoning |
| Personalization | Based on History | Real-time “In-the-moment” Needs |
| Outcome | List of Products | Curated Recommendations & Advice |
Why the Standalone Approach?
By launching SLAP as a separate app layer, Flipkart aims to capture the “Gen Z” and “New-to-Internet” demographics who find traditional e-commerce interfaces overwhelming. The standalone format also allows Flipkart to experiment with a more social, video-integrated interface that uses the Minivet AI technology (acquired by Flipkart in late 2025) to turn static product listings into dynamic, AI-generated video demos.
Conclusion: The Era of Agentic Commerce
With the announcement of SLAP, Flipkart is betting that the future of shopping isn’t just about browsing a grid of images, but about interacting with an intelligent agent. By leveraging a hybrid AI stack (combining Google’s Gemini for scale and in-house Indic-tuned models for local nuance), SLAP aims to make “Bharat” shop like a pro.
