[Digital Today reporter Choi Jae-won] Global e-commerce company Shopify has opened its shopping infrastructure so AI agents can search and buy more than 1 billion products. It will support consumers using the AI of their choice as a personal shopping assistant beyond partnerships with specific companies.

On Oct. 13 (local time), IT media outlet The Verge reported that Shopify released a capability that lets AI agents access its product catalog and handle everything from search to payment.

The service uses Shop MCP, based on the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Developers can connect compatible AI agents without separate partnership agreements to implement product search, cart building and purchasing functions.

Shopify's catalog includes products from merchants using its platform as well as items from external online shopping malls. More than 1 billion products are listed.

Shopify last month worked with Meta to provide product search and purchasing functions to the AI shopping agent Muse. This time, it expanded support without limiting it to specific partners.

Users can link an AI agent to their Shop account on Shopify's shopping app, Shop. If they set desired conditions such as a budget limit or fast delivery, the AI searches for and recommends products that match them.

Payment can also be made while talking with the AI. Shopify-based stores use the Shop Pay simple payment service, and purchases can also be made on external shopping malls after a separate approval process.

Still, the AI cannot buy products on its own. To complete payment, users must check and approve the purchase amount and payment method. Order and delivery information can be managed in the Shop app.

Competition among big tech companies including Google, Amazon and Meta is also intensifying in the AI shopping market. Shopify's strategy is to expand its influence in the agent commerce market by providing shopping infrastructure that is not tied to a specific AI service.