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Agent Commerce
Trends
- 1Retailers Block AI Shopping Agents From Their SitesโAI Agents Aim to Change Shopping. Some Retailers Are Locking the Doors.
AI shopping agents, which can browse and buy on a customer's behalf, are being heralded as the next shift in e-commerce. But major retailers are moving to block these automated agents from their websites, citing concerns over traffic quality, pricing control and losing direct customer relationships. The standoff is turning into an early fault line between AI developers and the retail industry.
- 2Retailers From QVC to Kohl's Split on Agentic ShoppingโRetailers From QVC to Kohlโs Are Split on Agentic Shopping
Major US retailers, including QVC and Kohl's, are divided over adopting agentic shopping โ AI tools that browse and purchase on behalf of customers. According to the Wall Street Journal, some see the technology as the next evolution of e-commerce, while others worry about losing direct customer relationships and control over branding and data. The debate reflects broader uncertainty in retail over how quickly AI agents will reshape online buying.
- 3Mastercard's Agent Pay score flags AI-agent paymentsโMastercard's new Agent Pay score tells issuers a transaction was probably agent-initiated. It doesn't say which agent, w
Mastercard has introduced a new scoring feature for Agent Pay that signals to card issuers when a transaction was likely initiated by an AI agent rather than a human. Critics note the score has limits: it does not identify which agent made the payment, whether that agent is reputable, or whether the merchant involved is legitimate, arguing that verifying agent identity and screening counterparties remains the responsibility of relying parties.
- 4As A.I. Agents Begin Shopping, Brands Rethink Their Sales PitchโผAs A.I. Agents Begin Shopping, Brands Are Changing Their Sales Pitch
Brands are adjusting how they market products as artificial intelligence agents increasingly shop on behalf of consumers. Instead of pitching to human shoppers with emotional advertising, companies are optimizing product data and descriptions so AI assistants can find, evaluate and recommend their goods, a shift with significant implications for e-commerce and digital marketing.
- 5Gladly Launches Agentic Commerce Platform for RetailโGladly Launches Agentic Commerce to End Retail's Two-Bot Era
Gladly announced the launch of Agentic Commerce, a new offering the customer service software company says will end what it calls retail's 'two-bot era' โ where shoppers deal with a retail chatbot and a personal AI assistant talking past each other. The company says the platform lets AI agents complete purchases directly, streamlining service and commerce in one flow.
- 6AP2 Solved Payments, Not Settlement, for Agent CommerceโAP2 Solved Payments, Not Settlement. Here's Why Agent Commerce Still Needs Both Last week,... # mcp # ai # cryptocurrenc
Google's Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), introduced for AI-agent-driven purchases, is drawing renewed debate in developer circles. Commenters argue AP2 standardizes how AI agents authorize and initiate payments, but does not solve settlement โ the clearing of funds between parties. That still depends on existing financial rails or crypto. The discussion suggests agent commerce will need both layers working together before autonomous purchasing goes mainstream.
- 7Meta's Muse AI agent can shop and check out for youโผMeta's Muse can shop and check out for you. Here's how it works
Meta has introduced Muse, an AI assistant that can browse products and complete purchases on a user's behalf. According to CNBC's coverage, the tool handles the shopping and checkout process end to end, marking Meta's push into agentic AI for commerce and raising questions about how automated buying will reshape online retail.
- 8Brands Rethink Marketing as AI Agents Start ShoppingโAs A.I. Agents Begin Shopping, Brands Are Changing Their Sales Pitch https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/03/business/dealboo
Artificial intelligence agents are beginning to make purchases on behalf of consumers, and companies are adapting their sales strategies accordingly, the New York Times reports. Instead of pitching only to human shoppers, brands now have to win over algorithms that compare prices and features, prompting a shift in how products are marketed and presented online.
- 9Meta partners with Walmart and Best Buy for AI shopping agentโMeta just partnered with major retailers like Walmart and Best Buy to let its Muse AI agent execute shopping carts direc
Meta has announced partnerships with major US retailers including Walmart and Best Buy to let its Muse AI agent complete shopping carts and checkouts directly inside the app. The feature moves Meta beyond AI-assisted search into transactional shopping, with more than 2.5 million early users reportedly testing the agent. Amazon has already blocked the bot from its marketplace, signalling friction between the two tech giants as AI agents begin handling retail purchases.