What we lose when artificial intelligence does our shopping

Retailers are racing to hand your shopping over to AI. Consumers are right to be wary – and not just about privacy.

By: Mark Bartholomew, University at Buffalo and Samuel Becher, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 23, 2026

Words: 1,130

Last Updated: 3 months, 1 week ago

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By Mark Bartholomew, University at Buffalo and Samuel Becher, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

Americans spend a remarkable amount of time shopping – more than on education, volunteering or even talking on the phone. But the way they shop is shifting dramatically, as major platforms and retailers are racing to automate commercial decision-making.

Artificial intelligence agents can already search for products, recommend options and even complete purchases on a consumer’s …

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