Three AI Models Chose Different Products From the Same Shopify Catalog
TLDR
An experiment had three AI models shop Shopify's catalog, and each one picked a different product as the winner.
Optimixed Overview
Optimixed's original report on this story.
Search Engine Journal ran a test in which three AI models shopped Shopify's catalog, and each model selected a different winner. The piece contrasts this with Google rankings, which merchants can at least monitor, and argues that the AI shopping decision layer offers nothing comparable to watch.
How we got here: earlier coverage
On October 2, Shopify enabled automatic enrollment in new AI shopping channels for all merchants, currently including Meta and unnamed startups. Then, on October 30, Shopify let merchants pay a commission on promoted products surfaced through AI shopping agents, with the agent developer deciding how to use that figure. Now, an experiment had three AI models shop Shopify's catalog, and each one picked a different product as the winner.
Summary of earlier coverage
- Oct 30Shopify Adds Commission Option for Stores Paying AI Shopping Agent Developers
Shopify now lets merchants pay a commission on promoted products surfaced through AI shopping agents, with the agent developer deciding how to use that figure.
- Oct 2Shopify automatically enrolls all stores in new AI shopping channels by default
Shopify has enabled automatic enrollment in new AI shopping channels for all merchants, currently including Meta and unnamed startups.
- Sep 3Google AI Mode displays different products and sellers than the product carousel in regular search results
Data shows Google AI Mode selects and ranks products differently than the traditional search carousel, often featuring different sellers for identical items.
- Aug 13Shopify Reports 197% Spike in AI Referrals While Organic Search Remains Traffic Leader
Shopify has seen AI referrals jump 197%, but organic search still drives the majority of ecommerce traffic.