It is urgent to define a strategy for agentic AI , a form of artificial intelligence capable of acting autonomously in the shopping experience. This warning comes from the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD), which emphasizes the urgency before this technology radically transforms how consumers shop and products are discovered within retail ecosystems.
In a report titled “Agentic AI and the future of shopping,” the IGD explains that, unlike traditional generative AI—which answers questions and creates content— agentic AI operates proactively. That is, it plans and executes actions to achieve specific results, such as making a purchase or optimizing a budget. And it does so without direct user intervention.
The organization warns that the widespread adoption of this technology has the potential to profoundly redefine the shopping experience. Among the consequences are the automation of basket building and product replenishment. Furthermore, agentic AI also ensures the simultaneous comparison of prices and availability across multiple retailers, as well as the optimization of purchases based on criteria such as budget, health, or sustainability. The checkout process is completed without human intervention; artificial intelligence handles the entire process.
According to the report, these capabilities are already emerging in advanced markets such as the United States. Solutions range from autonomous shopping assistants to end-to-end automated purchasing flows and personalized meal planning agents.
Risk of products becoming "invisible" on the shelf.
One of the main warnings issued by IGD is that products can become invisible in the classic decision-making process. Algorithms determine selections and visibility based on criteria distinct from traditional displays or shelf positions. Toby Pickard, retail futures senior partner at IGD, emphasizes that "it's not shelf visibility that matters, but visibility to the algorithms."
Although the use of AI tools for grocery shopping is still low in most markets, the IGD warns that, as happened with online and other convenient services, adoption could grow rapidly. Among experts, there is still some uncertainty about exactly when agentic AI will become mainstream . However, some predictions already point to its mass adoption by the end of 2026. “The uncertainty is not about whether agentic AI will change behaviors, but when. Companies that start preparing now will help shape how smart commerce expands . Those that wait may find that the future has already been decided without their intervention ,” concludes Toby Pickard.
What is agentic AI?
Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that operate autonomously to plan, decide, and execute tasks on behalf of a user, even without constant prompts . In contrast to AI that only answers questions or produces content, these agents can anticipate needs, act on defined priorities, and complete operations without direct human intervention.
