"In 2026, retailers are facing a major upheaval not only in how customers buy but also in who is actually doing the choosing. With the rise of AI agents, and social platforms continuing to blur the line between shopping and entertainment, capturing the customer's attention and proving that you are a trustworthy place to shop is going to become critical to continued success in retail. The common thread is trust."
"If generative AI reshaped the industry in 2024 and 2025, agentic AI will be the biggest industry buzzword in 2026. The term "agentic" refers to advanced artificial intelligence systems that can take autonomous actions without needing human input. In retail, this relates to shopping agents that can research, select, and purchase products in response to customer prompts, without requiring human interaction at every step."
""2026 will be the year agentic AI moves from curiosity to practical utility for mainstream shoppers, with the first real shift toward automating everyday essentials like groceries, bills, and household basics," states Jenny Hadlow, chief operating officer at Checkout.com. Their research suggests that 47% of shoppers would allow AI agents to complete "boring" shopping tasks, such as the weekly food shop. In the 25 - 44 age range, over two thirds are prepared to hand over control of their routine shopping to AI ag"
Agentic AI will enable autonomous shopping agents to research, select, and purchase everyday essentials without human input. A significant portion of consumers, especially aged 25–44, are willing to delegate routine shopping tasks to AI agents. Social platforms will further blur the line between entertainment and shopping, accelerating shoppertainment and shifting traffic acquisition strategies. Retailers will need to capture attention across new channels and demonstrate credibility to retain customers. Trust will become a core currency, affecting partnerships, routes to market, and consumer choice in a landscape where automation and entertainment-driven commerce converge.
Read at Forbes
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