Shopify announces AI access to 1 billion product listings
Shopify will let shoppers connect AI agents to their Shop accounts to search more than one billion product listings and arrange purchases on their behalf, The Verge reports. Users will still need to approve every purchase.
The move will allow shoppers to use agents without a separate partnership integration. Shopify’s catalogue covers products from both Shopify storefronts and other platforms.
Shoppers retain control
Shopify describes the capability as a personal shopping assistant. Shoppers can configure rules for their agents, such as a spending limit or a requirement to display only products with fast delivery.
Payments will be available through Shop Pay within a conversation with an agent. Completed orders will then be sent to the Shop app.
Shop, which Shopify owns, brings orders together, tracks parcels and provides product recommendations. Connecting an agent to a Shop account will give it access to the catalogue.
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Beyond partnership integrations
In September, Shopify announced a partnership with Meta that enabled its Muse agent to browse products and buy them on a user’s behalf. The newly announced access will let shoppers use agents without that kind of separate integration.
Google and Amazon are also developing AI shopping tools, The Verge notes. Agents’ ability to buy products for customers has already been the subject of disputes between Amazon and Perplexity, as well as Meta and its Muse agent.
