Observed Signal · Sep 15, 2026 · Market Research/Report · Source: Retail-News · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Generative AI to Become New Discovery Layer in E-Commerce
A report by Similarweb indicates that generative AI is increasingly influencing online purchase decisions, appearing in over 11% of shopping journeys prior to transactions, up from under 5% two years ago. However, traditional search remains crucial, with 89% of AI-influenced journeys also using search engines. AI is primarily used in early stages for problem definition and product comparison, while search is relied upon for specific product checks. This creates challenges in attribution, as last-click models often misattribute AI-driven conversions to search or direct traffic. Retailers must now optimize for visibility across multiple digital layers, including AI-generated answers and on-platform shopping assistants like Amazon's, and ensure structured product data to enhance AI recommendations.
Highlights a significant shift in e-commerce customer journey influenced by generative AI, presenting both challenges and opportunities for digital marketers and retailers.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Generative AI appears in over 11% of shopping journeys before a transaction, up from under 5% two years ago.
- In 89% of AI-influenced purchase journeys, a search engine is also used.
- AI is used mainly for early-stage tasks like problem definition, category learning, and option comparison.
- Classic attribution models often misattribute AI-influenced conversions to organic or paid search.
- Retailers must optimize structured product data to improve visibility in AI-generated recommendations.
Connected Companies & Entities
3 Entities mapped“According to the State of E-Commerce report by Similarweb...”
“Amazon demonstrates with its own shopping features how natural language can complement classical navigation, filters, and result lists.”
“Google remains an important component of digital purchasing processes...”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
AI Becomes Our Shopping Adviser
The article examines how generative AI and chat assistants have shifted product discovery from a menu of options to a single recommended answer, changing who does the deliberation work in shopping. Surveys cited (Clutch, Klaviyo, Riskified) show widespread consumer use of AI for product research and notable shares acting on recommendations. Major platforms and retailers are moving toward "agentic" commerce: OpenAI experimented with checkout and began showing labelled sponsored messages in early 2026; Amazon’s assistant narrows choices and can now buy under set rules; Google announced a commerce standard at NRF with retailers and payment firms. The piece highlights emerging practices such as Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) / Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), growing sponsored placements inside chat replies, trust issues (automation bias, mixed survey trust), and broader market effects including concentration of spend around the names AI surfaces.
Criteo Report: AI Aids Shopping but Stops Before Checkout
Criteo's "2026 Commerce & AI Trend Report," based on a January–February 2026 consumer survey of 6,379 people across the US, UK, Germany, France, Japan and South Korea, finds AI increasingly central to product discovery but rarely completing purchases. Marketplaces (36%) and search engines (28%) remain the dominant search entry points; AI assistants account for 14% as a complementary channel. Consumers use AI mainly for research and comparison—nearly half use AI tools for product comparisons while only 8% report buying through those tools. Visual (44%) and voice (26%) search are rising, and respondents prioritize a mix of personalization and unexpected discovery. Trust factors—privacy (46%) and protection against manipulated content (52%)—and strong brand recognition (75%) remain decisive for completing purchases.
How Brands Become Visible to AI Shopping Agents
Sponsored by Adobe Commerce, the article explains how AI shopping assistants (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini) are reshaping product discovery and creating a new discoverability requirement for retailers. Adobe reports AI-referred traffic to U.S. retail sites rose 393% year-over-year in Q1 2026 and converts 42% better than other traffic. Adobe’s research finds the average AI readiness score for U.S. retail product pages is 66% (best 82.5%, lowest 54.2%), indicating many product pages are not machine‑readable. The piece advises prioritizing high-value SKUs, adding structured, explicit product attributes (titles, specs, use cases, availability), and running audits with tools like Adobe’s AI Content Visibility Checker. Quotes come from Adobe’s Shaun McCran and Alex Jose, and the article cites BCG warnings about risks in the agentic commerce era.
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