See the Future of AI Shopping Agents (What Retailers Need to Know)

AI isn’t coming to retail — it’s already reshaping it.

At eTail West, Bluecore CPO Max Bennett took the stage to spotlight the real-world application of agentic AI for retail. He showed how smarter, more adaptable AI can increase conversions, improve product discovery, and create seamless, personalized shopping experiences across every touchpoint.

Then, he shared the data. For early movers in agentic AI, like QVC, 25% of website purchases now involve at least one interaction with an AI-powered shopping agent. 

And this technology has only just begun to influence high-intent moments. 

To help retailers unlock agentic AI’s full potential, alby is evolving into a dynamic agent that supports every stage of the shopper journey.

Here are five capabilities coming soon from AI shopping agents.

1. Letting shoppers shop with their eyes

Filters and specs are useful, but shoppers often make decisions based on look and feel. If they love the design of one product, they want to see more like it — without starting over.

alby’s next move: Introduce visual matching that helps shoppers find similar or complementary items instantly. Whether it’s a pair of boots that match a favorite bag or a throw pillow in the same tone as their chosen bedding, alby will understand what caught their eye and bring them more of it.

For retailers, the payoff is higher AOV, more cross-sells, and a discovery experience that feels intuitive, not transactional.

2. Style every shopper, in-session

Some shoppers know exactly what they want. Others need help putting pieces together — especially in categories like fashion and home.

alby’s next move: Add outfitting capabilities to curate complete looks around a shopper’s selected item. Pairing boots with a jacket or a sweater with jeans, alby will turn single-item interest into multi-item confidence.

For retailers, this unlocks higher basket sizes and a more personalized discovery experience.

3. Help shoppers compare without leaving the page

Decision fatigue is quicksand. When shoppers have to bounce between tabs, decipher specs, and remember which product had what, they often delay the purchase or give up entirely.

alby’s next move: Bring dynamic comparison tables directly into the shopping experience.

Instead of forcing shoppers to do the heavy lifting, alby will surface the key differences that matter — like fit, price, or materials — in a real-time comparison view tailored to their session.

For retailers, this drives higher conversion and fewer lost sales due to indecision.

4. Use email to resolve, not just remind

Retailers send millions of cart and browse abandonment emails, but most fall flat. Why? Because they remind shoppers to buy – without resolving why they didn’t.

alby’s next move: Embed shopper-specific Q&A into email to anticipate and answer the hesitation. Instead of generic nudges, alby will identify the questions that most likely caused someone to bounce (i.e. Does this come in other sizes?) and surface them directly in the message. 

For retailers, this means higher open rates, stronger click-throughs, and more carts recovered.

5. Turn every product page into a personalized quiz

Quizzes are great — when they’re relevant. But most are static, hard-coded, and live on a single landing page. They don’t adapt to what the shopper is doing in the moment.

alby’s next move: Turn every session into a dynamic, quiz-style discovery flow. As shoppers browse, filter, and search, alby will ask smart follow-up questions. Then, the AI agent will guide them to the right product based on what it’s learned. 

For retailers, the result is more engagement, stronger product fit, and less work for merchandising teams.

Is your brand ready for next-gen retail AI?

AI shopping agents are already shaping how customers discover, compare, and commit to a purchase. And there’s more on the horizon. 

Retailers who operationalize agentic AI will guide shoppers with confidence, reduce friction across the funnel, and drive measurable lift in conversion and revenue. Those who don’t, risk falling behind shopper expectations. 

Experience what alby can do for your shoppers with a free proof-of-concept.