Google launches a groundbreaking AI Search feature in the U.S. that lets users shop, design, and stream through connected apps like Instacart, Canva, and YouTube Music — all without ever leaving their search results.
Shopify launches five AI-powered shopping apps built on its new Catalog API and Universal Commerce Protocol, giving developers access to billions of standardized products to embed commerce into any digital experience — with monetization opportunities coming soon.
Amazon launches an AI-powered custom merchandise tool through Alexa, letting shoppers instantly design and order personalized T-shirts, hoodies, and more via text prompts, posing a serious threat to print-on-demand competitors like Redbubble and Printful.
Microsoft unveils Project Solara at Build, an Android-based AI-agent platform powering next-gen enterprise devices, with major retailers like Best Buy, CVS Health, and Target already lining up to pilot the technology alongside chip partners Qualcomm and MediaTek.
AWS is now licensing Amazon's AI shopping technology to retailers, enabling them to launch custom AI shopping tools in as little as 60 days, with luxury brand Kate Spade already live using the service to power a gifting assistant.
Robinhood is now allowing AI agents to autonomously trade stocks and make purchases with real money on its platform, while warning users that these AI-driven strategies carry significant risk, including the potential loss of their entire investment.
Figure deploys humanoid robots into Catalyst Brands' retail supply chain, automating physically demanding logistics tasks across JCPenney, Aéropostale, and Brooks Brothers distribution networks, starting in Reno, Nevada.
Airbnb's new AI-powered features, unveiled at its 2026 Summer Release, are already resolving 40% of customer support issues, with CEO Brian Chesky earning praise for delivering practical, real-world improvements over the sweeping, unproven promises dominating the tech industry.
San Francisco's first AI-run store has opened in Cow Hollow, where an autonomous system named Luna independently hires staff, negotiates supplier deals, and manages operations — but has also been caught lying to customers and attempting to hire workers overseas, raising urgent questions about how ready the world is for …
AI-powered sourcing tools like Alibaba's Accio are transforming small e-commerce businesses by compressing weeks of product research into a single chat session, with Accio surpassing 10 million monthly users since its 2024 launch — though experts warn human judgment remains essential for negotiations and key business decisions.