Contents
The End of Traditional Online Shopping: Giants Race to Integrate AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the landscape of online shopping. The days of endlessly scrolling through hundreds of product listings, comparing prices across multiple platforms, and setting up alerts for discounts are slowly fading into the past. At least, that’s the vision put forth by the biggest players in the digital commerce market. Their recent business decisions strongly suggest that consumers will soon hand over the reins entirely to artificial intelligence.
The Dawn of Conversational Commerce
The shift towards conversational commerce began in mid-2025. In July of that year, ChatGPT unveiled its AI Agent, which included a groundbreaking vision for AI-driven shopping. Internet users quickly put this concept to the test, exploring how the agent would handle purchases on a popular discount website – and it performed the task successfully.
While public discourse surrounding changes in “traditional” e-commerce eventually quieted, its leading proponents didn’t rest. Nearly all of them embraced the idea that conversational commerce represents the future of the sector. Rafał Brzoska, CEO of InPost, perhaps best encapsulated this sentiment in September 2025, when he described the transformative impact of the impending era of Artificial Intelligence Optimization (AIO).
“This is a revolution that could completely change the way consumers search for and buy products online, while simultaneously challenging giants like Google and Amazon. For months, I’ve been saying that conversational commerce will become the new standard. I think we will see this in practice very soon. The question is: are we ready for it?”
— Rafał Brzoska, CEO InPost, in a post on X
This paradigm shift promises a more intuitive and personalized shopping experience, where AI acts as a smart assistant, understanding user needs and streamlining the purchasing journey. For more insights into how AI is redefining online retail, you might be interested in our article on Amazon’s AI advancements in e-commerce.
E-commerce Giants Embrace AI: Allegro, InPost, and Amazon Lead the Way
InPost was quick to jump on the accelerating AI bandwagon. In March, they introduced “Von Halsky,” an AI-powered assistant designed to help users find and purchase products from thousands of stores available within the parcel giant’s application.
Amazon, not to be outdone, launched tests of its own AI shopping assistant as early as April 2025. Google integrated its AI into Chrome in September 2025. More recently, Allegro joined this distinguished group, forging a commercial partnership with OpenAI to develop innovative new retail tools. The company’s CEO shared details with Biznes Enter:
“Customers will gain a tremendous amount through AI on Allegro. It allows us to understand the customer even better and offer a new layer of advisory. Someone who is sometimes looking for a particular product or category simply needs advice. AI technology is ideal here to replace that physical, real advisor with a virtual one, perfectly matching the desired product to specific requirements.”
— Marcin Kuśmierz, CEO Allegro, for Biznes Enter
These initiatives underscore a widespread industry commitment to leveraging AI to enhance customer engagement and optimize the purchasing process.
Will Social Media Be the Fastest Adoption Ground for AI Shopping?
Despite the revolutionary potential of AI in e-commerce, one significant hurdle remains: user habits. Most shoppers are accustomed to meticulously browsing through dozens of offers to unearth that single “gem.” Many also feel a need to be personally responsible for selecting the contents of the package headed their way from an online store. Consequently, it might be challenging for them to simply “surrender” to the will of AI in this domain.
Paradoxically, even though a Visa report cited by Omnichannelnews (via Biznes Enter) indicated that as many as 47% of online American shoppers used AI at some stage of product selection in 2025, experts predict that the most rapid shift in habits will occur within social media platforms.
Alsendo, a company specializing in software development and shipping services support, notes that in social media, stores “do not compete solely on price or breadth of offerings, but on a product’s ability to ‘sell itself’ in mere seconds.”
In other words, if you’re scrolling through reels and are captivated by a blouse worn by an influencer, there’s a high probability you’ll be ready to buy it instantly due to that emotional connection. If the video seamlessly integrates a “buy now” option that requires just three clicks, you won’t even have time to hesitate. This immediate gratification is why social media is poised to experience the e-commerce revolution most rapidly. For more on this trend, explore how Meta is integrating shopping links into Reels and other social features.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Conversational commerce refers to the use of chat-based interfaces and AI assistants to facilitate online shopping. AI enables it by understanding natural language queries, providing personalized product recommendations, answering questions, and even completing purchases on behalf of the user, making the shopping experience more interactive and efficient.
E-commerce giants are integrating AI in various ways: Amazon and Google are developing AI shopping assistants for product discovery and purchase, InPost introduced ‘Von Halsky’ for product search within its app, and Allegro partnered with OpenAI to create new advisory tools. These initiatives aim to personalize recommendations, streamline product searches, and provide virtual assistance, replacing traditional browsing with intelligent guidance.
Social media is uniquely positioned for rapid AI shopping adoption because it thrives on impulse and visual appeal. Unlike traditional e-commerce, where users might meticulously compare options, social platforms often trigger instant emotional responses to products seen in content (e.g., influencer videos). If AI can seamlessly integrate direct purchase options with minimal clicks into these engaging experiences, it bypasses ingrained habits of lengthy research, leading to faster conversions and a more immediate impact on shopping behavior.
Source: None
Opening photo: Gemini
About Post Author
