Shopify and AI

What Founders Need to Know About the Next Wave of Commerce

Shopify’s Big Step with OpenAI

Shopify recently announced a partnership with OpenAI to bring integrated shopping into ChatGPT. At first glance, this looks like a powerful leap forward in conversational commerce, a search, recommendation, and checkout all inside the AI experience.

Hot Take: this is the first step toward advertising in OpenAI. And it raises some serious questions for founders.

Why This Isn’t Just About Convenience

Ads Are Coming

When you introduce integrated commerce into a chat platform, advertising is the logical next step. Users are going to see recommended products, and many will be unhappy if it feels intrusive to the flow of conversation. OpenAI will have to work hard to avoid the same missteps that Meta made with Facebook and Instagram checkout. Don’t forget they forced merchants to use their native checkout experience only to dump it within a few years due to heavy pushback from merchants.

Biggest complaints, hard to merchants to control the inventory, customer interaction and order fulfillment. Now this had a lot to do with the fact that Meta didn’t require a specific backend (like Shopify or Woocommerce) as a back end system. So, it remains to be seen if Open AI can launch a better product.

Customer Data and Control

Many businesses hated Meta’s in-app checkout because it limits visibility into customer data and splits order management into different systems. Just because Shopify orders can be placed through ChatGPT doesn’t mean they’re seamlessly integrated into your store’s POS or back-end processes. That remains to be seen.

Shopify-Only: For Now

This rollout is exclusive to Shopify merchants. That means Shopify brands get first access, but the rest of the ecosystem is watching closely. If it works, expect integrations with other major players like WooCommerce.

What This Means for Founders

Golden Nugget: Shopify Gets First Crack

If you’re on Shopify, you’ll have the early advantage in testing this new channel. But don’t switch away from WooCommerce just yet. As adoption grows, OpenAI will likely add WooCommerce and other big players. The real risk is for those not on scalable platforms at all. If you’re running on a smaller, custom, or outdated solution, it may be time to consider a move.

Strategy Before Platform

At ACE Digital, we never recommend chasing the shiny object. Whether you’re on Shopify, WooCommerce, or another platform, the fundamentals matter more:

• Audit your tech stack. Make sure orders, payments, and customer data flow seamlessly into your CRM.
• Map the customer journey. New channels should support conversions, not distract from them.
• Plan for execution. Integrated checkout is worthless if you aren’t running email sequences for abandoned carts, retargeting campaigns, and nurture flows.

If you’re struggling to choose between Woo and Shopify, we’ve broken it down in detail: Is WooCommerce Right for My Business in 2025?

Content and Commerce Require Iteration

Integrated commerce through AI won’t be a one-and-done tactic. As with all digital channels, success requires iteration:

• Weekly reviews of what’s converting and what’s not
• Funnel alignment to ensure traffic doesn’t get wasted
• Continuous optimization of copy, offers, and retargeting

The businesses that treat AI commerce as an experiment with structured feedback will outpace those who treat it like a quick fix.

The Bottom Line

Shopify’s OpenAI integration is a signal: conversational commerce is here, and advertising inside AI is inevitable. But founders shouldn’t rush blindly. Strategy comes first. Your platform, your customer data, and your funnel must all work together before layering in a new channel.

At ACE Digital, we help founders cut through the noise and turn technology shifts into growth systems. If you want clarity on how to prepare for AI-driven commerce, we offer a free 2-hour strategy session. Click to apply and see if you qualify.