Can ChatGPT now handle all my online shopping?

No, while ChatGPT and other AI agents can now assist with online shopping, they are not yet able to fully automate the process. Retailers and tech companies are still working to address issues like costly mistakes and data sharing before AI agents can take over as full-time virtual buyers.

How are consumers responding to AI-powered shopping assistants?

Surveys show that while 60% of US consumers plan to use AI to assist with shopping, only 20% would let an AI agent fully handle their everyday purchases. In fact, 25% say they would prefer to shop without any AI help.

What is the future outlook for agentic shopping?

Industry projections remain optimistic, with McKinsey estimating that up to $1 trillion in sales could be generated through agentic shopping by 2030 in the US alone. However, experts say there are still "big questions that have to be solved" before AI agents can become a mainstream shopping solution.

Home / Technology / AI Agents Fail to Fully Automate Online Shopping, Retailers Struggle

AI Agents Fail to Fully Automate Online Shopping, Retailers Struggle

14 Nov

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Summary

AI chatbots like ChatGPT can now help with online shopping, but significant limitations remain
Retailers and tech companies are still negotiating how to limit mistakes and data sharing for AI shopping agents
Consumers are not yet fully embracing AI-powered shopping assistants, with only 25% preferring to shop without AI help

AI Agents Fail to Fully Automate Online Shopping, Retailers Struggle

As of November 14th, 2025, AI chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT have started to integrate with e-commerce platforms, allowing users to make purchases directly within the chat interface. This "Instant Checkout" feature is one of the first results of partnerships between leading AI companies and major retailers.

However, the integration of AI agents into the shopping experience is still a work in progress. Executives at several tech and e-commerce firms reveal that AI developers are still negotiating with retailers on how to limit costly mistakes by these agents and the amount of product data and chat history that needs to be exchanged. Consequently, the current AI shopping features require significant user input and operate slowly or only for a limited number of items.