OpenAI has started testing built-in shopping suggestions inside ChatGPT, aiming to make it easier for users to find, compare and buy products without ever leaving the conversation. While there’s no official Shopify integration yet, there’s plenty of buzz and early signs that this is the direction things are heading.
At the same time, Google, Visa and Mastercard are all rolling out AI-powered commerce features. The shift is clear: AI will soon play a bigger role in how people discover and buy online.
In this article, we’ll break down what this means for ecommerce brands and how to set your store up to actually show up in these AI-powered recommendations.
Here's how to get seen.
1. Use Shopify’s Built-In Structured Data
ChatGPT pulls product info from structured data, especially schema.org markup. Shopify themes like Dawn already include product schema by default. But custom themes or apps can break it. Test your product pages using Google’s Rich Results Test or Schema Markup Validator to make sure your data is intact.
If your product schema is missing or broken, fix it in your theme files. Usually, that means editing main-product.liquid or product.json.
2. Fill Out Every Product Field Properly
This is one of the most overlooked steps. AI reads more than what’s on the surface. Make sure:
- Product titles are specific and readable
- Descriptions explain benefits clearly
- GTINs, MPNs and brand names are included where possible
- Availability is marked correctly (in stock, out of stock)
The more accurate and structured your data, the more confidence AI has to recommend your products.
3. Optimise for Natural Language Questions
People don’t search AI the way they search Google. Instead of typing “black running shoes” they might ask, “What are the best lightweight running shoes for summer?”
That means your descriptions need to answer real questions in plain English.
Example:
Not this: Polyester-blend tank top. Slim fit. Machine washable.
Try this: This lightweight, breathable tank top is ideal for warm-weather workouts. The slim fit stays in place while you move, and it’s easy to wash and dry.
4. Use High-Quality Images and Videos
ChatGPT is starting to show product images in responses. Good visuals help your product stand out. Use clean, well-lit images from multiple angles. Include short videos if possible.
Name your image files with keywords, like black-running-shoes-side.jpg, and write descriptive alt text.
5. Stay Fast and Mobile-Friendly
AI tools consider more than content. If your site is slow or hard to use on mobile, it might hurt your chances of being recommended.
Use Shopify’s speed reports or PageSpeed Insights to spot issues. Compress your images, remove unused apps, and avoid bloated code or animations.
6. Get Your Store Indexed Properly
Make sure your sitemap is submitted to Google Search Console and that all product pages are being indexed. ChatGPT leans on search engines to discover and rank pages.
Double-check that you’re not blocking important pages with noindex tags or robots.txt rules.
7. Keep It Up to Date
AI tools prefer current, relevant listings. Retire old products, restock items, and update availability often. Even evergreen products benefit from fresh data.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t about gaming the system. It’s about clarity. The better your product info, the more likely AI tools are to surface it when someone asks.
If you’re already doing these things, you’re ahead of most. If not, now’s the time to start.
