Silicon Valley companies increasingly adopt Chinese open-source AI models like DeepSeek R1 for cost advantages while Trump battles Democratic states over AI regulation, as chatbots revolutionize shopping with potential to generate $3-5 trillion in annual commerce by 2030.
Google launches Universal Commerce Protocol with major retailers like Shopify, Target, and Walmart, debuts AI shopping agents that let customers chat directly with brands like Lowe's and Reebok, and tests exclusive discount offers in AI-powered search results.
Google launches Universal Commerce Protocol with major retailers including Shopify, Target, and Walmart, enabling AI agents to handle complete shopping experiences from product discovery to checkout using Google Pay and integrated customer service support.
Microsoft launches Copilot Checkout, enabling users to purchase products directly through AI chatbot conversations without visiting retailer websites, currently available in the US with select partners including Urban Outfitters and Ashley Furniture.
Amazon's experimental AI programs 'Shop Direct' and 'Buy for Me' scrape competitor websites without permission to list products, prompting backlash from over 180 retailers who report receiving unwanted orders for items they don't sell or that are out of stock.
OpenAI launches grocery shopping directly within ChatGPT through Instacart partnership, allowing users to brainstorm meals, create lists, and purchase items without leaving the chat interface while generating new revenue streams for the AI company.
ChatGPT drives 28% more Black Friday shopping referrals as AI traffic to retail sites explodes 805%, with Amazon dominating at 54% of referrals while Walmart surges from 2.7% to 14.9% share, and AI-driven shoppers show 38% higher purchase rates than traditional visitors.
Autonomous AI agents are poised to control 55% of consumer spending by 2030, worth over $690 billion in the UK alone, forcing businesses to abandon human-centered design for machine-readable systems that prioritize logic and efficiency over emotional engagement.
Perplexity launches a free AI shopping tool for U.S. users next week, enabling direct purchases from search results through partnerships with over 5,000 merchants and PayPal payment processing, directly challenging OpenAI's similar feature in the race to dominate AI-powered e-commerce during the crucial holiday shopping season.
Meta revolutionizes Facebook Marketplace by introducing AI-powered shopping assistance, collaborative buying features that let friends join seller chats together, and social elements like reactions and comments on listings while integrating inventory from eBay and Poshmark.