Shopify believes artificial intelligence is transforming the future of online shopping. During its third-quarter earnings call, the e-commerce software company called AI an “incredible tool” that empowers entrepreneurs and described it as “the biggest shift in technology since the internet.” Shopify has seen a 7x increase in traffic from AI tools to its online stores since January and an 11x rise in purchases driven by AI-powered search.
Shopify’s president, Harley Finkelstein, said the company’s strength in the AI era comes from its access to data from millions of merchants and billions of transactions, combined with a founder-driven mindset that prioritizes fast product development. Shopify also uses AI internally. One of its tools, Scout, helps employees analyze hundreds of millions of pieces of merchant feedback to make informed product decisions.
Finkelstein explained that Scout is only one of many tools Shopify is building to turn its vast data—such as support tickets, user activity, reviews, social interactions, and Sidekick prompts—into quick and well-informed decisions. He emphasized that AI is not just a feature at Shopify but the foundation of everything the company builds.
Shopify is partnering with OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, as well as Perplexity and Microsoft Copilot, to create in-chat shopping experiences. A recent Shopify survey revealed that 64% of shoppers are likely to use AI in some form when making purchases. Finkelstein said Shopify has been investing in infrastructure that integrates shopping into AI conversations, making it easy for merchants to connect with customers wherever they interact with AI.
He pointed out that Shopify’s collaborations with leading AI platforms show its commitment to ensuring that its merchants stay ahead of competitors. Although the era of AI-driven or “agentic” commerce is still in its early stages, Shopify is laying the groundwork for its growth. Finkelstein noted that the company remains flexible because agentic commerce will likely take different forms, and Shopify wants to be prepared for whichever direction it evolves.
He compared the current moment to the rise of social commerce and the shift toward “commerce everywhere,” where the line between physical and online shopping blurred. Shopify intends to stay ahead of such transitions by being adaptable and data-driven.
Financially, Shopify’s third-quarter results reflected strong performance. The company’s revenue rose 32% to $2.84 billion, surpassing expectations, while profit reached $264 million, or 20 cents per share. However, its stock slipped slightly after reporting an operating income of $434 million, which was just below analyst estimates of $437 million.
Despite that minor setback, Shopify remains confident that AI will redefine how merchants and consumers interact. The company’s deep investment in AI tools, partnerships, and data-driven infrastructure suggests it sees itself not just as an e-commerce provider but as a leader shaping the next generation of digital commerce.
