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Automated market research

4 min read

From: gregisenberg

Automated market research leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents, such as “Operator,” to perform complex tasks that mimic human browsing and interaction on the internet [00:00:09]. These agents can initiate businesses, conduct detailed research, and even handle cold email outreach [00:00:32]. The technology is rapidly evolving, with predictions that features like voice capabilities will soon be integrated directly into platforms like Operator [00:14:33].

Key Capabilities and Use Cases

1. Retail Arbitrage and Price Discrepancy Research

AI agents can be used to identify undervalued products across different online marketplaces, facilitating retail arbitrage opportunities [00:01:21].

  • Process Example: An agent can be prompted to find specific items, such as a “gney pizza oven,” on Facebook Marketplace that are “grossly undervalued” compared to listings on platforms like eBay [00:01:34]. The agent can be instructed to start its search within a specified radius (e.g., 500 miles of Dallas) and log promising listings into a spreadsheet [00:01:55].
  • Output: The agent can successfully identify undervalued items, noting details like condition and included accessories [00:02:15]. It can then compile this information, including titles, locations, conditions, and links, into a provided spreadsheet [00:05:38].
  • Automation Vision: The goal is to fully automate the arbitrage process:
    1. Have the operator research average selling prices on eBay [00:10:10].
    2. Instruct it to make offers (e.g., half price) on undervalued items, especially those listed for longer periods [00:10:17].
    3. Once accepted, the user would manually take pictures and list the item on eBay [00:10:31].
    4. Upon sale, the agent could potentially manage payment collection and even provide the end buyer’s shipping address to the original seller for direct shipment, creating a highly automated business [00:10:40].
  • Business Potential: This approach can scale to a six or seven-figure business by applying the arbitrage technique to various high-ticket, undervalued products [00:03:07]. This represents a significant business automation opportunity, surpassing traditional methods like using virtual assistants [00:04:03].

2. Gathering Service Quotes

AI agents can streamline the process of obtaining quotes for various services, eliminating the need for manual outreach.

  • Process Example: An agent can be tasked with finding catering quotes for an event, specifying details like guest count, menu preferences (e.g., steak plus two sides), and location (e.g., Dallas, Texas) [00:11:56].
  • AI’s Actions: The agent can navigate specific websites (e.g., theknot.com), search for vendors, fill out contact forms with user details, and draft messages requesting per-head quotes [00:13:01], [00:14:43]. It can even make intelligent assumptions, like choosing a tentative wedding date if not provided [00:16:22].
  • Refinement and Control: Users can give specific instructions to the agent, such as changing the tone of messages or instructing it to submit forms without confirmation [00:15:55], [00:16:13]. The agent can also learn and adapt based on user intervention or past interactions [00:15:26].
  • Future Potential: The vision extends to voice-based AI agents, where a service called “nevercallagain.com” could use voice AI to call hundreds of vendors simultaneously, gather quotes, and relay them back to the user [00:13:42].

AI agents can assist in deep research techniques for product sourcing, particularly from international e-commerce platforms.

  • Process Example: An agent can be instructed to go to sites like AliExpress (or alternatives like Banggood if the primary site is inaccessible) to “find trending items” on the homepage [00:22:12].
  • AI’s Actions: The agent navigates the site, identifies trending products (e.g., earbuds based on prominence and high ratings), drafts messages to vendors asking for free samples, and handles account creation and submission of requests [00:25:56], [00:26:32]. It can even generate strong passwords for new accounts [00:27:08].
  • Challenges: The agent may encounter website accessibility issues, registration limits, or require manual input for verification codes [00:22:53], [00:27:24], [00:28:49].
  • Future Potential: Agents could be provided with specific data sets of Google Trend data to focus product searches and sample requests on specific, emerging trends [00:33:07].

4. Cold Emailing and Outreach Automation

AI agents can directly manage cold email campaigns.

  • Capability: By providing a spreadsheet containing emails, first names, and a message template, the agent can send personalized cold emails [00:33:47].
  • Mechanism: The agent logs into the user’s Gmail account within its browser to send the emails [00:34:09]. This capability can replace dedicated cold emailing software, offering significant cost savings [00:34:00].

Outlook and Considerations

The current state of AI agents for market research, while still evolving, is perceived as a significant “arbitrage moment in business” [00:30:45]. Despite occasional bugs or limitations (e.g., initial slowness, difficulty with specific prompts), their ability to automate complex web-based tasks for $200 a month is considered incredibly valuable [00:27:52], [00:30:03].

Users are encouraged to actively engage with these tools, experimenting with different prompts and observing what works and what doesn’t, treating the AI like a direct, blunt commander rather than a human [00:32:43]. Early adoption and understanding of their nuances will be crucial for leveraging their full potential [00:30:37].

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