PayPal says AI shopping agents are creating an invisible storefront economy

A recent PayPal survey reveals that many merchants are not equipped to handle the growing trend of AI agents making purchases on behalf of customers. This gap in infrastructure is highlighted in PayPal’s first U.S. Agentic Commerce Pulse Survey, which gathered insights from 498 decision-makers across various business sizes, including small businesses, mid-market firms, and large enterprises. As AI technology increasingly influences how products are discovered and bought, merchants face challenges in adapting to these changes. The survey underscores the need for businesses to upgrade their systems to remain competitive in a market where AI-driven commerce is becoming more prevalent. QUESTION: How might the rise of AI agents in shopping change the way businesses interact with their customers in the future?