Consumers are rapidly embracing agentic commerce — a new era where AI agents don’t just recommend products… they buy them for you.
AI is no longer just a digital shopping assistant. It’s becoming the shopper itself — discovering, comparing, adding to cart, and even checking out on your behalf. Leading platforms like OpenAI (with Stripe), Shopify, Amazon, Google, and PayPal are racing to make this a seamless, chat-based reality.
What Is Agentic Commerce?
Agentic commerce is powered by autonomous AI agents that manage the entire customer journey — from discovery to payment.
Until now, AI only suggested what to buy. In 2025, platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Operator (by OpenAI) are enabling fully agent-driven transactions directly inside chat interfaces — no website visits required.
Explosive Adoption: 2025 Data Snapshot
AI shopping is going mainstream:
- 60–74% of consumers now use AI during their shopping journey (BCG, Adobe)
- 38% have tried GenAI-powered shopping; of those, 85% say it’s better than traditional browsing (HUMAN)
- AI-driven product recommendations convert 4.4× higher than classic search (Semrush)
| Metric | 2025 Data | Source |
| AI in shopping adoption | 60–74% | BCG, Adobe |
| GenAI shopping trial rate | 38% | HUMAN |
| Preference for agentic shopping | 85% (among users) | HUMAN |
| Conversion rate (AI agent traffic) | 4.4× higher | Semrush |
Transforming the Checkout Experience
The checkout experience is evolving from referral-based to agent-to-checkout.
AI agents can now build carts and process payments autonomously. Imagine asking your assistant, “Get me a travel backpack under $100,” and the purchase is completed — instantly, securely, and without leaving the chat.
The Future: Agent-to-Agent Commerce
The next leap? AI agents negotiating with brand-owned agents.
Consumers will simply set their preferences — and AI agents will do the rest: compare, negotiate, and buy.
By 2026, at least 20% of retail transactions are expected to be agent-driven. By 2035, up to 80% of internet traffic could be managed by agents.
What This Means for Brands
AI agents are becoming the new customers.
Brands must now:
- Optimize product data for AI discoverability
- Enable agent-to-agent transactions
- Redefine loyalty and visibility for a world where algorithms make the buying decisions
Those who invest early in agentic infrastructure will lead. Those who don’t may lose visibility altogether.
Sources
McKinsey • BCG • Adobe • HUMAN • Gartner • Semrush • Platform announcements from OpenAI, Shopify, Amazon & Google
Agentic commerce isn’t a future concept — it’s here, and it’s scaling fast.
The question isn’t if AI will shop for consumers.
It’s whether your brand is ready to sell to AI.
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