To prepare for a future in which AI can make purchases on your behalf, companies are laying the groundwork for agentic transactions, and PayPal is the latest to join the effort. Also: I let ChatGPT Atlas do my Walmart shopping for me - here's how the AI browser agent did On Tuesday, the company launched its agent commerce services, a suite of solutions designed for merchants to enable AI-driven shopping experiences that build on PayPal's existing payment infrastructure.
This bifurcation, according to Stern, is at the separation of commodity buying and experience-based shopping. On the one hand, if someone wants a commodity item or a widely available brand, almost any store will do. A shopper might ask ChatGPT to order more Tide laundry detergent, and not care who sells it. What matters is getting Tide delivered quickly at a low price.
What if your next online shopping experience didn't require endless scrolling, multiple tabs, or even visiting a website? Imagine asking a chatbot for the perfect pair of running shoes, receiving tailored recommendations, and completing your purchase, all within the same conversation. This isn't a glimpse into a far-off future; it's the reality Shopify is creating with its new integration of ChatGPT-powered agentic commerce. By blending conversational AI with e-commerce, Shopify is not just refining how we shop, it's fundamentally redefining it.