Conversational assistants powered by artificial intelligence are playing an increasingly important role in digital usage. In this context, Shopify has announced a new feature: the ability for its merchants to offer their products for sale via ChatGPT, Google Gemini or Microsoft Copilot. This development concerns both catalog visibility and the payment options integrated into these platforms.
- A new feature available from January 26
- Another channel in the omnichannel strategy
- What are the logistical implications for sales via AI assistants?
Shopify now allows e-tailers to sell via ChatGPT and other AI assistants such as Gemini. A new sales channel that also poses major logistical challenges.
A new feature available from January 26
According to The Information, Shopify has announced that from January 26, merchants using its platform will be able to offer their products for purchase directly via AI conversational assistants, such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini or Microsoft Copilot. This new feature is part of a series of similar initiatives recently launched by OpenAI, Google and Microsoft around payments integrated with conversational assistants.
According to Shopify communications, products will be accessible by default via AI interfaces, with no manual activation required on the part of merchants, except for certain platforms such as ChatGPT, which require a specific approach.
Another channel in the omnichannel strategy
The addition of AI assistants as a distribution and sales channel is part of a strategy to diversify points of contact with consumers. Shopify positions this new feature as complementary to existing channels: e-commerce site, mobile applications, marketplaces and social networks.
Referenced products will also remain accessible via classic links to merchant sites, even if integrated payment is not activated. This means that a company can benefit from visibility in AI-generated responses without necessarily offering direct purchasing functionality via chatbot.
What are the logistical implications for sales via AI assistants?
Shopify’s new feature, which enables merchants to sell via conversational assistants like ChatGPT, is part of an evolution in e-commerce usage towards more automated and fluid channels. Products become accessible in AI-generated responses, and in some cases purchasable directly, according to terms defined by platforms and merchants.
This evolution raises specific logistical issues: synchronizing stocks, centralizing orders, updating product data in real time. These elements are becoming essential to guarantee the continuity and reliability of the customer experience, regardless of the point of contact, a subject we addressed in our webinar onagentic commerce.
To find out more about the logistical challenges of conversational AI, you can watch the replay now.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about selling via AI assistants with Shopify
Shopify supports integration with ChatGPT, Google AI Mode (Gemini) and Microsoft Copilot. These assistants can recommend products and, depending on the settings activated, enable direct purchase.
Only for sales via ChatGPT, where a 4% commission is applied by OpenAI. No additional commission has yet been announced for Google or Microsoft.
Yes, merchants can disable AI channels from their Shopify interface or prevent product listings from being indexed.
By default, most products are available for viewing and recommendation. To prevent them from appearing, manual action is required (deactivation or exclusion via robots.txt).
Yes, as of January 26, broadcasting is enabled by default. Activation of payment via certain assistants (such as ChatGPT) remains voluntary.
Glossary
AI assistant (or conversational AI assistant)
Artificial intelligence-based program capable of interacting in natural language (e.g. ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot).
ChatGPT
Language model developed by OpenAI, used as a conversational assistant in a variety of applications, including e-commerce.
In-chat payment
Functionality enabling a purchase to be finalized directly in the interface of an AI assistant, without redirection to an external site.
OMS (Order Management System)
Order management software. Centralizes, synchronizes and automates omnichannel order processing.
Indexation
Action whereby a page or product sheet is referenced and stored in the database of a search engine or AI assistant, so that it can appear in the results.
robots.txt
File used to tell crawlers (engines or AI) which pages or content they can or cannot index.