Microsoft Copilot Enables Agentic AI Checkout For Etsy, Shopify, PayPal & More
On the heels of last year's OpenAI Checkout In Chat announcement, Microsoft Copilot will soon enable agentic AI checkout capabilities for Etsy, Shopify, PayPal and more.
According to a company press release, Copilot Checkout is now available in the US, allowing merchants to reach shoppers as they complete purchases discovered directly within Copilot without being redirected to external sites.
Copilot Checkout turns conversations into conversions — instantly. No redirect, no friction, and merchants stay the merchant of record. Copilot Checkout on Copilot.com.
Trusted partners enabling this experience include PayPal, Shopify and Stripe. Shoppers will be able to purchase from leading retail brands such as Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Ashley Furniture, and discover unique and handmade items from Etsy sellers with many more joining soon.
Shopify merchants will automatically be enrolled in Copilot Checkout following an opt-out window.
"Copilot Checkout can move a customer from intent to transaction in seconds, all without leaving the conversation. It’s the merchant’s checkout powered by Shopify, seamlessly fitting into the customer’s experience,” said Mani Fazeli, VP of Product at Shopify. "This is the modern power of Agentic Storefronts: personalization and relevance, trust and accuracy, speed and convenience."
Shopify may want to read the room and reconsider that automatic enrollment in light of the recent backlash from online sellers who are objecting to having their items automatically included in Amazon's AI powered Buy For Me beta test.
Liz Morton
Etsy tried to couch the move as continuing their mission to "keep commerce human" by putting people at the center of AI commerce.
"At Etsy, our job is to make it simple for people to discover the special things our sellers create. By bringing Etsy’s unique inventory to Copilot Checkout, we’re meeting buyers at the moment intent becomes action," said Rafe Colburn, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Etsy.
"With one integration, we open the door for our sellers to show up across new surfaces without extra work. It’s a straightforward way to connect their creativity to high-intent buyers — and to keep commerce human as shopping evolves."
But a recent Ask Me Anything with new CEO Kruti Patel Goyal, revealed there's still a stark divide between Etsy and sellers' opinions about how the company is integrating AI into the marketplace.
Liz Morton
Gizmodo had a less than positive take on the Copilot Checkout news, warning consumers that once agents have access to your wallet, they may accidentally drain your bank account.
AJ Dellinger
And The Information reports(paywalled) that agentic AI checkout capabilities are not rolling out as quickly as OpenAI and others had hoped after facing the one obstacle any ecommerce merchant could have warned them about - messy data.
SEO expert Glenn Gabe was not surprised that OpenAI has struggled to standardize merchant data, pointing to Google having a massive advantage in this area since they already have standardized data to draw on from Google Shopping and other product offerings, while also saying it's likely still going to take time for consumers to get used to the idea of buying stuff using AI.
More on ChatGPT checkout delays -> Shoppers also need to get used to the idea of buying stuff using AI...
— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) January 8, 2026
"For OpenAI, which has said it takes a cut of sales made through its in-chat checkout, shopping would generate more revenue from the ChatGPT users that don’t pay for its… pic.twitter.com/r9uZP5OGL2
Pew research from 2024 found the general public and tech experts were still very far apart in their general enthusiasm and predictions for AI and many remain skeptical of this technology - especially for anything that could have direct financial impact.
Beshay
Would you trust an AI agent to shop and complete checkout for you? Let us know in the comments below!
