STOP DOING “SEO.” 2026 belongs to AI shopping agents (most marketers aren’t ready)

Hey,
Heads up, grab a snack, this will be a long post...

Right now, the internet is quietly changing the way people buy.

For 20+ years the flow was:

Search » click » read » compare » checkout.

Now the flow is becoming:

Ask » AI compares » AI chooses » AI checks out.

Not “someday.” It’s already being shipped by the biggest players.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED (REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES)

1) ChatGPT is turning into a checkout lane

OpenAI and Stripe released “Instant Checkout” so someone can discover a product inside ChatGPT… and buy it right there.

They also released ACP (Agentic Commerce Protocol) — basically a set of rules that lets stores talk to AI agents safely during a purchase.

Translation: stores can become “agent-ready,” meaning an AI can confidently buy from them without everything breaking.

2) Instacart shopping inside ChatGPT

Instacart launched a full shopping experience inside ChatGPT:

You ask for meal ideas, it builds your cart from nearby stores, and you checkout without leaving the chat.

Translation: the “store visit” becomes a conversation.

3) Amazon is pushing auto-buy

Amazon’s assistants (Rufus/Alexa+) can add items to your cart and even auto-buy when the price hits a target you set.

Translation: fewer clicks… more “set it and forget it.”

OK… SO WHAT IS “AGENTIC COMMERCE” IN PLAIN ENGLISH?

It means your next customer might not browse your page.

Their AI will.

And the AI won’t pick the product with the prettiest hype.

It will pick the product it can understand, justify, and purchase with the least risk.

THIS IS THE PART MARKETERS NEED TO WAKE UP FOR

In 2026, “ranking #1” won’t be the whole game.

Because the decision might happen BEFORE a human ever lands on your site.

The new SEO is:

“Do I get chosen by the AI shopping agent?”

HOW DO YOU PROFIT FROM THIS (WITHOUT TECH OVERLOAD)?

Here’s the simplest money play:

Sell “Agent-Ready Optimization” to e-commerce sellers.

You’re not selling ads.

You’re selling visibility inside AI-led buying.

What does “Agent-Ready” mean in practice?

A store needs 5 things:

1) An “Answer Page” (FAQ that closes)

A page that answers the buying questions clearly:

- Who is this for?

- Who is this NOT for?

- What’s the difference vs alternatives?

- What do I get in the box?

- Shipping/returns/warranty in plain language

2) Clean product info

Sizes, variants, compatibility, materials, dimensions.

No confusion. No missing details.

3) Proof that reduces regret

Real reviews, real Q&A, clear policies.

Agents are risk-avoidance machines.

e-commerce

4) Short “decision content”

5 quick clips that answer the top questions buyers ask.

(These clips also help humans — win/win.)

5) Checkout that doesn’t fight the buyer

If a customer is buying from inside a chat or through an assistant, the path must be clean and consistent.

A QUICK EXAMPLE (SO YOU CAN SEE IT)

Let’s say you promote “standing desks.”

Old content:

“10 best standing desks” (fluffy list, generic pros/cons)

Agent-ready content:

One killer page titled:

“Standing Desk: Which One Should You Buy (Based on Your Height, Budget, and Space)?”

Then you add:

- a simple sizing guide

- 3 clear picks (budget / best value/premium)

- honest “don’t buy this if…”

- direct answers to the top 10 questions

- clear price ranges + shipping/returns

Now when someone asks an AI:

“Pick a standing desk for a 1.82m person, under €300, stable for typing”

…your page is built to be quoted and used as the decision source.

BOTTOM LINE

Most people will keep chasing yesterday’s game:

Keywords, clicks, and hope.

The next wave is getting chosen by the AI that makes the keyword decision.

So, if you want to make money online in 2026:

Build content (or offers) that AI agents can understand, trust, and act on.

Because that’s where the purchasing power is moving.
Well, if you are still here, and if you liked this HEADS UP, drop me a LIKE ;)
Cheers
Pedro
PS: All images in this post were made with WA Image Studio 💪