Will AI Do Your Shopping? How 'Smart Agents' Will Change Retail

Imagine software that doesn't just show you products but actively shops around for you, negotiates prices, and even handles returns. That's the promise of 'agentic commerce' — a hot topic in the world of AI right now. It means artificial intelligence tools, often called 'agents', are becoming increasingly capable of completing full tasks, not just parts of them, in areas like online shopping or business operations.

For Australian small businesses, this could be a game-changer but also a challenge. On one hand, these AI agents could automate customer service, manage stock, or even find better suppliers. Think of it as having an incredibly efficient, tireless virtual employee. On the other hand, if customers start using their own AI agents to shop, businesses will need to adapt how they present their products and services to appeal to these smart programs, not just human eyes.

Traditional online shopping involves a person browsing websites. With agentic commerce, your AI assistant might browse dozens of sites, read reviews, compare features, and then present you with the best single option, or even complete the purchase for you. This means businesses will need to think about how their products appear to other AI systems – is the information clear, structured, and easy for an AI to understand and compare?

While the technology is still developing, and we're not quite at the point where everyone has a fully autonomous shopping AI, forecasters believe by mid-2026, we'll see significant progress. It's an important trend for any business owner or consumer to watch, as it could fundamentally change how we buy and sell online, making transactions quicker and potentially more efficient.