A report from ZDNet found that AI shopping agents are quickly becoming a mainstream part of how consumers discover and evaluate products, but adoption is coming with mixed feelings.
According to the data cited, 73% of consumers have already used AI chatbots to search for products or services, signaling a major shift away from traditional browsing and search. At the same time, trust remains fragile. Nearly as many consumers, 71%, say they are concerned about how generative AI uses their personal information, and only 57% report being satisfied with their chatbot experiences today.
Despite these concerns, consumers continue to lean on AI to save time, narrow choices, and surface better value. As AI agents increasingly act as the front door to shopping, brands must rethink visibility.
This is where Answer Engine Optimization comes into play. Winning no longer means ranking pages, but being accurately understood, trusted, and recommended inside AI-generated answers at the moment decisions are made.
