can customers find your products through chatgpt and copilot?
Shopify can make products visible in AI channels such as ChatGPT and Copilot. This is what you can manage and what remains outside your control.
Shopify calls selling through AI channels such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot agentic storefronts. You choose which channels may show your products and which ways to pay are available.
how is this different from simply being found in ai?
Shopify shares clear product information with participating AI channels. You choose which channels receive access and can provide information about your brand and policies. The AI platform ultimately determines how the answer is presented to the customer.
who’s having the conversation on behalf of your brand?
The AI assistant does that, not you. You set guidelines for which products may be shown, which claims are allowed and how prices and promotions are presented. The conversation then runs through the AI platform without you reading along live.
what happens if the ai assistant says something wrong?
That is the biggest risk of selling through AI because you hand over part of the communication. Start small with a limited product group and clear, factual guidelines. Expand only after you have been able to check what customers see.
| only visible in ai | actively selling through ai | |
|---|---|---|
| what the AI assistant sees | product information, title, price and stock | product information plus your brand guidelines |
| who sets the tone | the AI platform | you, through the rules you provide |
| control over claims | none | yes, set in advance |
| good fit for | any store that wants visibility | stores that want to actively shape how they sound |
how to start this sensibly
- ✸Start with a small product range where you can closely control the copy and claims
- ✸Write guidelines as if briefing a new employee, concrete, no assumptions
- ✸Ban claims you can’t back up, even if they sound like good sales copy
- ✸Review a sample of conversations or summaries weekly if the platform offers that
- ✸Only expand to more products once the first few weeks produced no surprises
frequently asked questions about selling through ai
is this the same as a chatbot on my own site?
No. The sale takes place on platforms such as ChatGPT or Copilot and not on your own website.
can I turn this off again?
Yes. You can adjust the settings for each store in Shopify, just like other sales channels.
do customers know they are talking to an ai assistant?
Customers generally see that they are dealing with an AI assistant and not a member of staff.
do I need to change my returns policy?
No. The terms of sale remain your store's own. The AI assistant presents the information and order handling works as it always did.
is this a fit for every industry?
It works best for products with clear, comparable specifications. Highly visual or advice heavy products need more caution in the guidelines you set.
“Your brand just got a new salesperson. Make sure that salesperson knows what it can’t promise.”