AI-enabled shopping assistants: Why full agentic shopping is still years away
The rise of artificial intelligence has transformed online shopping, with AI-enabled shopping assistants now helping users discover products that match their tastes and needs. Yet, despite the buzz around fully autonomous "agentic shopping"—where AI agents shop entirely on a person’s behalf—industry experts suggest this vision is still far from becoming mainstream. According to recent insights, the technology may be advancing quickly, but user readiness, trust, and shopping habits remain major factors slowing adoption. Instead of replacing the shopping journey, AI today is focused on enhancing discovery and personalization, much like a skilled personal assistant who knows your style and anticipates your preferences.
Image Credits:PATRICK T. FALLON // Getty Images
Understanding AI-enabled shopping assistants
An AI-enabled shopping assistant uses advanced algorithms, personalization models, and multimodal AI (which can process both images and text) to recommend products tailored to a user’s unique style and interests. This technology goes beyond simple search—it proactively offers suggestions based on browsing behavior, saved preferences, and past interactions. For many users, the experience feels intuitive and personal, as if the platform “just gets them.” This approach aligns with the natural way people shop: starting with inspiration, exploring options, and gradually moving toward a purchase. In the current landscape, AI’s role is less about making purchases for the user and more about guiding them toward the right choice, making online shopping more engaging and efficient.
Why agentic shopping is still a long way off
While the idea of AI agents autonomously purchasing items for users is compelling, it faces significant adoption challenges. For one, consumers are still hesitant to hand over complete control of their buying decisions to technology, especially for personal or style-based purchases. There’s also the question of trust—will an AI always pick the best value or match the buyer’s unique taste? Additionally, certain purchases require emotional connection or tactile evaluation, something algorithms can’t fully replicate yet. This means that, for the foreseeable future, most shoppers will prefer to remain actively involved in their buying journey, using AI as a helpful guide rather than a stand-in decision-maker.
The future of AI-driven shopping experiences
The real growth in AI shopping lies in smarter recommendations, immersive search experiences, and personalized visual discovery tools. Platforms are already investing in AI-powered personalization engines, conversational search, visual search features, and AI-optimized advertising to deliver a more tailored experience. In what some are calling a “Cambrian moment” for AI, the industry is rapidly experimenting with ways to make digital shopping not only faster but also more inspiring. As AI continues to evolve, shoppers can expect increasingly intuitive assistants capable of anticipating their needs, suggesting unique finds, and blending visual inspiration with actionable purchasing options—all while keeping the human touch at the center of the shopping experience.
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