{
  "id": 1618785,
  "title": "High tech, but low trust: Agentic tech meets old-school scepticism at AI checkout",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/high-tech-but-low-trust-agentic-tech-meets-old-school-scepticism-at",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-18T02:57:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Economic Times Tech",
    "slug": "economic-times-tech",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/artificial-intelligence/high-tech-but-low-trust-agentic-tech-meets-old-school-scepticism-at-ai-checkout/articleshow/133309919.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In September 2025, OpenAI unveiled the Instant Checkout feature, enabling users to make purchases from retailers like Etsy, Walmart, and Shopify directly within the ChatGPT interface. However, six months later, the company scaled back these ambitions due to the lack of user adoption. According to The Information, users researched products on ChatGPT but did not utilize the platform for purchases. OpenAI is now focusing more on product search and discovery, which would redirect users to buy directly from the retailer's app or website.\n\nExperts attribute the slow adoption to challenges such as changing customer behavior and a lack of consumer trust in purchasing from AI-driven platforms. Additionally, concerns over retailers having access to first-party customer data, including purchase records, contact details, and website usage, are making retailers skeptical.\n\nDespite the hurdles, there is a significant appetite for AI in shopping. A Morgan Stanley report from December 2025 suggests that AI-powered shopping assistants could drive $385 billion in US ecommerce spending by 2030. In India, Google's AI mode in search, launched in April, has seen over 60 billion updated product listings, with 87% of users reportedly making more confident decisions using AI mode. Indian e-commerce firms like Flipkart, InMobi, and Meesho have heavily invested in AI, with platforms like Flipkart's SLAP, Meesho's PRISM, and Vaani being launched to enhance user experience through AI.\n\nAI-focused discovery platforms like Flash AI are also gaining traction. The company has found that queries processed through AI channels convert significantly better than organic traffic, with conversion rates three times higher than non-AI traffic. However, challenges persist in achieving end-to-end agentic checkout, which experts suggest is still a few years away.",
  "summary": "AI’s ecommerce ambitions are hitting a reality check as trust and changing buying habits are holding back chatbot-led commerce, writes Swathi Moorthy",
  "key_points": [
    "OpenAI launched Instant Checkout in ChatGPT in September 2025.",
    "Users researched products but didn't use Instant Checkout for purchases.",
    "Concerns over data access and consumer trust hindered adoption."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The setback for agentic tech checkout highlights that gaining consumer trust is a major hurdle for AI-driven shopping platforms to overcome before they can achieve widespread adoption.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}