A growing number of ecommerce brands are turning to AI-powered shopping agents to drive sales, as new research highlights the technology’s impact on customer acquisition and online purchasing.
The study, conducted by Pattern Group Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRN), surveyed 1,000 senior business leaders across the UAE, United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, and found that one in three ecommerce brands has already deployed AI shopping agents.
AI adoption in ecommerce
According to the report, 76% of businesses using AI-powered search have reduced customer acquisition costs. More than half of ecommerce companies (57%) are exploring AI agent applications, and 33% are actively preparing for deployment.
Fashion leads the adoption curve, with 46% of brands ready for AI agents to become a primary sales channel. The beauty sector is also investing, with 59% exploring AI tools, though only 27% are fully prepared.
Investment trends
Ecommerce companies invested an average of $291,626 in AI over the past year. Pattern projects this figure will rise 11% to $323,886 in 2026, reflecting a focus on AI-powered customer service, personalised advertising, and intelligent product discovery.
Industry perspective
Ryan Byrd, Chief Technology Officer at Pattern, said: “We’re seeing a decisive shift from AI as a supporting tool to AI as an active participant in commerce. As AI-native shoppers increasingly rely on agents to discover, evaluate, and purchase products, brands must rethink how their data, systems, and customer experiences work together. The opportunity isn’t just lower acquisition costs—it’s building intelligent, scalable commerce ecosystems that earn trust and drive growth in an agent-driven world.”
The report also found strong confidence in AI’s role in driving sales, with 87% of respondents expecting AI-powered search to contribute to direct sales growth over the next 12 months.
The research indicates a broader trend of AI-native shoppers turning to tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini to guide purchasing decisions. Brands are responding by integrating AI more directly into ecommerce operations, signalling a shift toward agentic commerce.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
