Google bolsters bet on AI-powered commerce with new platform for shopping agents

Google's launch of a new universal commerce protocol for shopping agents marks a significant investment in AI-powered commerce, aiming to standardize interactions between retailers and AI-powered shopping agents. This development means that website owners, particularly those in the ecommerce sector, can expect increased integration of AI-powered shopping agents on their platforms. As retailers create more AI agents for shopping and customer service, website owners will need to adapt their sites to accommodate these agents, ensuring seamless interactions and transactions. To prepare for this shift, website owners should take the following steps: monitor AI bot traffic to their sites, update their llms.txt files to reflect changes in AI agent interactions, and review their content policies to ensure compliance with Google's universal commerce protocol. By doing so, website owners can capitalize on the benefits of AI-powered commerce and maintain a competitive edge in the evolving ecommerce landscape.