New research suggests traditional digital marketing strategies may be less effective on AI-powered shopping agents and assistants.
AI agents, answer engines and video commerce are reshaping brand discovery, customer engagement and digital marketing strategies in 2026.
Amazon has integrated Alexa into its shopping search bar as the company expands AI-driven commerce and conversational shopping features.
TCS and Rezolve Ai have announced a partnership to scale agentic commerce solutions and AI-powered shopping experiences globally.
Manychat has integrated Claude AI to strengthen ecommerce automation and conversational customer engagement capabilities.
Creatable has launched a predictive AI platform to help book creators improve ecommerce performance and audience targeting.
Etsy launches a native ChatGPT app to enhance AI-powered shopping, product discovery, and conversational commerce experiences.
PhonePe launches an AI-powered integration layer to simplify merchant operations, automate workflows, and improve digital business efficiency.
Coca-Cola promotes Siddharth Subramanian to Director, Marketing Digital Commerce, reinforcing its focus on digital transformation and consumer engagement.
Amazon is testing an AI-powered audio Q&A feature on product pages to improve shopping experience and product discovery.
BigBasket has appointed Arpit Jaiswal as Chief Growth Officer to drive expansion and strengthen its market position.
Amazon has launched an AI Store in India to help users discover and shop smart devices with simplified recommendations.
Lenovo has deployed an AI data agent to enhance marketing, user experience, and e-commerce operations across its platforms.
Myntra has appointed Sharon Pais as its new head, with current CEO Nandita Sinha set to step down amid leadership restructuring.
Contextual commerce is reshaping B2B buying, with marketplaces emerging as the primary destination for discovery, evaluation, and transaction.
Frasers Group launches an AI shopping assistant, with early data indicating improved conversion rates and enhanced customer engagement.
Flipkart has appointed Hemant Badri to lead its AI transformation as the company strengthens its focus on automation and data-driven growth.
Magicpin launches Vera, an AI assistant for retailers, backed by a $1 million investment to enhance customer engagement and business efficiency.
Havas has completed 11 acquisitions to strengthen its AI, commerce, and data capabilities across global markets.
Flipkart appoints Smita Ojha and Amit Sharma to strengthen its technology leadership and drive innovation.
Amazon India highlights how women leaders are driving AI innovation to enhance customer shopping experiences.
Swiggy partners Sarvam to launch voice-led ordering, aiming to simplify food delivery through AI-powered voice interactions.
Swish has raised $38 million in funding to expand its quick commerce operations and strengthen its delivery infrastructure.
Meesho has launched Vaani, a Gen AI voice assistant designed to simplify shopping and improve accessibility for users across India.
Accenture invests in DaVinci Commerce to advance agentic AI driven shopping and enhance digital commerce experiences.
World has launched a verification tool to confirm human users behind AI shopping agents, addressing trust and security concerns in AI driven e-commerce environments.
Shoplazza has adopted an agentic commerce architecture to enable AI driven e-commerce operations, allowing businesses to automate workflows and enhance customer engagement.
Google has promoted Abhinav Rastogi to lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping as the platform expands its commerce capabilities within the creator ecosystem.
Meta has introduced an AI feature for Facebook Marketplace that can automatically reply to buyer messages, helping sellers respond faster to common questions.
Technosport has appointed Achal Sharma as Chief Technology Officer to strengthen its digital capabilities and accelerate technology led growth.
Moglix appoints Animesh Srivastava as CTO to lead its technology and AI strategy and scale Cognilix, the company’s AI-led operating system for B2B commerce.
Mastercard launches an AI agent payments pilot in Singapore, allowing AI systems to complete purchases within user-defined rules and secure payment networks.
Affiliate marketing is powering AI search and creator commerce in 2026, linking product recommendations to checkout through performance-based monetisation and trackable commissions.
Bluecore launches an AI powered marketing agent to automate retail campaigns and enhance customer personalisation.
Google has set up a dedicated AI team in Southeast Asia to support e-commerce and gaming platforms, strengthening its regional focus on AI-driven digital growth.
OpenAI partners with Pine Labs to build agentic commerce in India by embedding AI agents into payment systems, enabling autonomous commerce tasks.
Uber Eats has rolled out an AI-powered Cart Assistant in its app to help users turn text or image prompts into ready-to-checkout grocery carts, enhancing convenience.
Nykaa has highlighted challenges in issuing financial guidance as shifting consumer trends and cost pressures impact forecasting, even as the beauty sector shows growth.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has outlined plans for agentic commerce tools and a broader AI rollout in 2026, signalling deeper integration of AI across Meta’s platforms.
Swiggy has introduced a new feature that allows users to place food orders directly through ChatGPT, marking a step forward in conversational commerce and AI-led user experiences.
Deepinder Goyal resigns as Eternal CEO and moves to Vice Chairman role with Albinder Dhindsa of Blinkit stepping in to lead the group amid strong business performance.
Flipkart has appointed Jane Duke as Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, reinforcing its focus on governance, ethics, and regulatory compliance.
Google has introduced a Universal Commerce Protocol to support AI-powered agentic shopping tools across discovery, decision-making, and transactions.
PayPal and Microsoft launch Copilot Checkout, combining AI-assisted shopping with integrated payments to streamline online purchases.
From AI-driven search to video commerce and privacy-first personalisation, here are the top 10 digital marketing trends shaping strategy and growth in 2026.
Brand websites are no longer the first stop for discovery. Platforms, marketplaces, and social feeds now shape how consumers find and trust brands.
Indian brands are increasingly driving discovery and conversion through WhatsApp and Instagram DMs, creating “shadow funnels” that operate outside traditional websites and analytics.
AI-generated product descriptions are creating accuracy issues on e-commerce platforms, raising concerns around consumer trust, misleading claims and the need for stronger human oversight.
Zepto Cafe has introduced AI-powered ordering, allowing customers to place food orders using AI models as part of its push toward faster and more intuitive commerce.
AI adoption in India is rising fast, reshaping daily habits and shopping decisions. This story examines whether AI is empowering consumers or creating new dependencies.
