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Visibility in the Age of AI

Everything you know about ecommerce is changing fundamentally

You are no longer selling only to people. Agents can research, compare and act on the same product information, shaping which brands enter consideration before a shopper reaches a website.

Agents

58.7%

Humans

41.3%
Source: Cloudflare Radar · Worldwide · Last 7 days · Captured 28 July 2026

Visibility started with keywords

To find a product, a customer compressed a need into a short query, scanned ranked results and compared the options themselves. Brands competed to appear high enough to enter consideration.

4 results

CloudStep cushioned walking shoes

£89.00

4.8(342)

Northline

TrailLite waterproof walking shoes

£112.00

4.9(516)

Northbound

CityFlex supportive walking shoes

£96.00

4.7(271)

Common Ground

MetroWalk memory-foam shoes

£84.00

4.6(224)

Fieldwork

Now you can go from a prompt to a complete look

Now you can go from a prompt to a complete look

A shopper can now state the occasion, budget and style once. An AI agent can interpret the brief, research current options and assemble a complete look before the shopper chooses where to buy.

AI agents research, compare and build the shortlist

AI agents research, compare and build the shortlist

One shopper goal becomes a series of product checks across prices, reviews and availability. Missing or unclear product data can remove an option before the shopper sees an answer.

AI turns the request into product tests.

Product tests: Noise control, Clear calls, 40h+ with ANC, Under £150.

Checks product pages, reviews, price and availability against those tests.

Bose faviconBose
Bose QuietComfort headphones

QuietComfort Headphones

24h with ANC

£229.95

JBL faviconJBL
JBL Tune 770NC headphones

Tune 770NC Headphones

44h with ANC

£49.99

Sony faviconSony
Sony WH-CH720N headphones

WH-CH720N Headphones

35h with ANC

£75

Above £150 budget

Shortlisted

Below 40h requirement

JBL Tune 770NC enters the shortlist.

Customer chooses JBL Tune 770NC and continues to checkout.

JBL Tune 770NC headphones

JBL

Tune 770NC Headphones

44h with ANC

£49.99

Buy

Under the hood, several factors shape an agent’s answer

An AI agent’s answer depends on the selected model, the information supplied in the conversation and capabilities such as live web retrieval. The same prompt can produce different recommendations.

The following outputs come from real agent runs on platform.openai.com using GPT 5.6 Luna, GPT 5.6 Terra and GPT 5.6 Sol.
  1. The shopper asksa question

    They describe what they need, how they will use it and their budget.

  2. Model answer

    For 20 km/week on roads, I’d choose a comfortable, cushioned daily trainer in an actual wide width, not simply a roomy standard shoe. Good UK options under £150 include:

    ShoeWhy it’s a good choiceTypical UK price
    Brooks Ghost 16 WideSafest all-round pick: comfortable, reliable cushioning, smooth on roads£130–£150
    Saucony Ride 17 WideSoft, well-cushioned and versatile for easy and moderate runs£120–£145
    New Balance 880v14 Wide / 2EStable, durable and often particularly good for broad feet£120–£145
    ASICS Gel-Cumulus 26/27 WidePlush, comfortable cushioning without feeling overly soft£130–£150
    Mizuno Wave Rider 28 WideFirmer, responsive feel and good durability£130–£150

    My recommendation

    • Buy the Brooks Ghost 16 Wide if you want the safest, most universally comfortable option.
    • Choose the New Balance 880 Wide/2E if your feet are broad through the forefoot.
    • Choose the Saucony Ride 17 Wide if you prefer a softer, more cushioned feel.

    Fit tips

    • Look for “Wide,” “2E,” or “4E”. A standard-width shoe with a stretchy upper may still be too narrow.
    • Try shoes on later in the day, wearing your running socks.
    • Leave roughly a thumb’s width in front of your longest toe.
    • Your heel should feel secure while your toes can spread naturally.
    • Don’t automatically size up to solve width; try a wide version first.

    Prices and available widths vary by men’s/women’s model and retailer, so check the exact width before ordering. If you have never used zero-drop shoes, I’d avoid Altra as a first choice.

    Model answer

    For your 20 km/week of road running and £150 budget, I’d buy the Saucony Ride 18 Wide.

    Best choices

    1. Saucony Ride 18 Wide: best overall

      • £78 currently on Saucony UK, reduced from £130.
      • Neutral, everyday road shoe with a good balance of cushioning and responsiveness.
      • Best fit if you want one shoe for most runs without a “max-cushion” feel. (saucony.com)
    2. Brooks Ghost 17 Wide: safest comfort pick

      • £94.50 currently, reduced from £135.
      • Soft, dependable cushioning and balanced support; particularly suitable for easy runs and general training.
      • Check the exact colour/size carefully, as availability varies and some wide versions are listed as preorder or sold out. (brooksrunning.com)
    3. HOKA Clifton 10 Wide: if you prefer very cushioned shoes

      • Around £98 at one UK running retailer, with other listings under £150.
      • Lightweight, cushioned and road-oriented, but the rocker-like shape and HOKA feel are more distinctive, so try them on if possible. (achillesheel.co.uk)
    4. New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15: if you need a broader, more conventional fit

      • The 2E Wide version is currently listed around £104 by UK price comparison data.
      • A sensible daily trainer, especially if New Balance’s width options fit your foot shape better than Saucony or Brooks. (pricespy.co.uk)
    5. ASICS GT-2000 14 Wide: only if you want extra guidance

      • £98 currently, reduced from £140.
      • A road shoe with a stability/guidance design, so choose it if you know you prefer or need that feeling, not simply because your feet are wide. (asics.com)

    My recommendation

    • Buy the Saucony Ride 18 Wide if you want the best value and a versatile neutral shoe.
    • Choose the Brooks Ghost 17 Wide if softness and comfort matter most.
    • Choose the HOKA Clifton 10 Wide if you like substantial cushioning and a rocker-style ride.

    When trying them on, run or walk in them with your usual socks. You should have roughly a thumb’s width in front of your longest toe, no pressure over the little-toe side or big-toe joint, and a secure heel without tightening the laces excessively. Don’t assume a regular shoe in a larger size is equivalent to a proper Wide/2E version.

    Change the model or live web access,and the answer can change

    Compare the final answer after each change. First turn live web retrieval on and off for the same model; then keep web access fixed and choose another model.

  3. Shoppers encounter afragmented model landscape

    One prompt can change under different configurations. Shoppers can also encounter many models, versions and capability levels. This catalogue shows that breadth; selecting an item does not change a response.

Some signals that may help your brand become part of the answer

There is no fixed recipe. Clear positioning, accurate product data, customer and community discussion, independent evidence and seller context may help. Their impact varies, and none guarantees a recommendation.

  • A distinctive brand

    Clear positioning makes a product recognisable and connects it to the outcomes shoppers express, from comfort and performance to sustainability and style.

  • Authoritative product truth

    Complete, accurate specifications, imagery, pricing, availability and policies establish what the product is, who it serves and how it differs.

  • Verified reviews

    Reviews, expert testing, journalism and earned coverage test brand claims. Agreement across credible sources provides corroboration, not repetition.

  • User-generated content

    Reviews, forums and public communities show how real customers describe, compare and use products, including the questions they still need answered. Agents may retrieve this language as supporting evidence; visibility is not guaranteed.

  • Own brands vs retailers

    When the same product is sold by a DTC brand and several retailers, an AI platform may compare price, stock, service and checkout support. OpenAI says primary-seller status may be one factor. This varies by platform and is not a universal rule.

Agent-led discovery is already a paid channel

Businesses can already buy placements inside some agent journeys. In one documented ChatGPT car rental flow, Avis ads appeared while the shopper researched Hertz.

This single case does not prove that the ad changed the recommendation or that every platform works the same way. It shows that paid placement now sits alongside earned recommendations.

Juozas Kaziukėnas · LinkedIn video post · 13 July 2026 · single public observation [12]

As visibility becomes valuable, bad actors follow

Black-hat tactics may lift visibility briefly by manipulating what AI systems see or how they behave, but they put customer trust and the brand at risk.

Image 1 of 9

Looking ahead, shopping becomes agentic

One possible direction, not a forecast for every purchase, is that trusted agents coordinate more of the journey after a customer expresses the outcome.

Scenario boundaryUCP can carry checkout handoffs; AP2 can add verifiable authorization. The multi-person agent coordination shown is illustrative, not defined by either protocol. The business remains the merchant of record.
  1. Illustration of a person manually shopping for pizza on a computer.

    Shopping meant doing every step

    On a computer, one person searched, compared, collected preferences and checked out.

    Manual pizza ordering. One person finds local delivery, checks restaurant menus, asks each friend what they want, compares prices and delivery times, chooses a restaurant, configures four pizzas, reviews the basket and fees, enters delivery and payment details, places the order and receives confirmation..
  2. Illustration of a person manually shopping for pizza on a phone.

    The screen changed, not the work

    On a phone, the person still searched, chose and entered every detail.

    Manual mobile shopping. One person scrolls restaurant menus, messages friends, configures four pizzas, enters checkout details and pays..
  3. Illustration of a customer expressing a shared pizza outcome by voice.

    Order pizza for me, Maya, Theo and Sam.

    Shopping starts with the outcome

    One person asks for pizza for the group. Trusted agents coordinate the preferences and order.

    The customer says, “Order pizza for me, Maya, Theo and Sam.” The shopping agent confirms it is working, retrieves its customer’s Margherita preference, waits while the group’s personal agents resolve Ortolana, Capricciosa and Diavola, finds a suitable restaurant, checks the menu and delivery fit, then confirms: “I placed the order with a nearby pizza restaurant. Four pizzas: Margherita, Ortolana, Capricciosa and Diavola. Total: £64.80 including delivery.” The customer replies, “Thank you,” and the agent closes with, “No problem.”. The shopping agent asks Maya’s personal agent for her preference. It checks her saved favourites and exclusions, selects an Ortolana and responds.. The shopping agent asks Theo’s personal agent for his preference. It reviews his recent orders and dietary profile, selects a Capricciosa and responds.. The shopping agent asks Sam’s personal agent for his preference. It checks his usual order and spice preference, selects a Diavola and responds..
  4. Illustration of a merchant validating and preparing a pizza order.

    The merchant stays in control

    The restaurant checks the order, authorization, menu availability and kitchen capacity before accepting.

    The restaurant receives a new order request, reviews the four pizzas and delivery details, confirms payment authorization status, checks menu availability and kitchen capacity, accepts the order, then sends the ticket to the kitchen.. Checkout request received. Buyer authorization verified. Merchant accepts under its rules.
  5. Illustration of four pizzas arriving for a group.

    Coordination continues after checkout

    The accepted order moves through preparation and delivery as one coordinated handoff.

    The agent follows the order through fulfilment. One coordinated handoff carries the whole group order.
  6. Illustration of a group sharing a personalised pizza outcome.

    The outcome replaces the process

    Everyone gets a personalised choice without one person managing each step.

    Four individual preferences resolve into one order. No one has to manage the transaction step by step.

The shift is already underway. Your business needs to be ready for what comes next

This will impact your business

AI will change how customers find, compare and buy products. The impact will differ by business, but no business can ignore it. Founders need to stay involved, prepare their teams and decide where to act first.

There is no fixed playbook

Everything is moving fast. A tactic can become obsolete within days. Keep watching, testing and adapting instead of relying on one playbook.

This is an opportunity to grow

This change is not only a risk. It can help you reach new customers, reduce friction and create better buying journeys. Businesses that understand the shift and adapt can use it to grow.

Visibility in the Age of AI

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Sources and limitations

  1. Google, AI Mode updates from I/O 2025

    Supports query fan-out and related research. Availability varies by market and account.

  2. Amazon, Interests

    Explains translation of everyday language into queries and attributes.

  3. Amazon, Rufus usage and shopping behaviour

    More than 250 million customers had used Rufus in 2026 by 13 May; the purchase relationship is associative, not causal, and Rufus was renamed Alexa for Shopping.

  4. Similarweb, Zero-Click Marketing: The SEO Strategy For A World Where Most Searches Skip Your Site

    Published 10 June 2026 from Similarweb’s own clickstream panel; the article reports a 68.01% zero-click rate and presents 68% as the headline figure. It measures general Google search behaviour, not commerce journeys, purchases or the isolated effect of AI Overviews. The article does not publish a complete sample size or confidence interval.