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AI has not only changed how users search online, but it could also soon impact shoppers’ purchasing decisions and make it easier to buy items online. Technology companies have been experimenting with how commerce can interact with digital assistants like Gemini and ChatGPT, as the retail market is projected to reach as high as $1 trillion from AI commerce, according to McKinsey. Leading e-commerce site Shopify says merchants might soon be able to sell their products inside ChatGPT. This could completely derail retailers’ sales and marketing strategies, as AI continues to disrupt nearly all industries.  Shopify to make AI-driven sales the default The AI-driven sales conversions would happen in Shopify’s agentic storefronts. This allows shoppers to buy products and check out directly through AI channels like ChatGPT and Google’s AI mode. The storefronts have been in early access mode since December but an email sent to merchants on March 11 indicates it could launch for all stores by the end of the month. “Buyers can find your products and complete purchases inside ChatGPT. This agentic storefront channel will launch by default for your store, and you will be able to modify settings in your Admin,” the email states. Buyers could make purchases directly through ChatGPT with a pilot mode which allowed payments through a native checkout on OpenAI’s Instant Checkout,  Modern Retail reported. Shopify: 2006 to 2026 timeline2006: Founded in Canada by friends Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand and Scott Lake after they launched an online snowboarding equipment store. Source: The Globe and Mail2009: Shopify launches an API platform and App store, which allows developers to create applications for online stores and sell them on the Shopify app. Source: Shopify2015: Shopify goes public, raising more than $131 million. Source: Wall Street Journal2023: Shopify lays off 20% of its workforce and sells its in-house logistics arm. Source: Techcrunch2025: Shopify transfers its U.S. listing from the NYSE to the Nasdaq. Source: Yahoo FinanceInstant Checkout was rolled out in September 2025 and allows users to make purchases directly through ChatGPT. Instead, Shopify’s rolled-out AI approach will direct buyers to make purchases on the merchant’s storefront, either through an in-app browser or a separate desktop browser. OpenAI has scaled back Instant Checkout directly inside ChatGPT and instead is pushing for app-based integrations, which would explain Shopify’s change in strategy. Transactions will continue to run through Shopify and appear on dashboards like any other sale. Merchants are also automatically opted in, with products automatically discoverable through AI chat models, meaning there is no need for online Shopify retailers to build an AI app.AI shopping could change retail shopping habits Shopping with an AI assistant, or agentic commerce, could soon become the norm. Instead of using Google search to determine the best products, an AI agent would anticipate, personalize, and even automate purchasing decisions. Shopify’s move to embrace AI signals that e-commerce is changing for retailers. The traditional consumer journey of clicking and scrolling may soon no longer apply, as AI assistants help shoppers make purchasing decisions. More Retail Stocks:Costco sees major shift in member behaviorRetail chain shuts all locations as legal changes hit industryLululemon struggles to reverse concerning customer behaviorInstead of websites and ads playing a vital role in how shoppers make decisions and which brands they trust and shop from, the AI agent could take on a stronger role in making those decisions. Businesses will need to adapt and change how they approach marketing and sales, a report from McKinsey states. Still, it’s unknown how consumers may react to having a robot make their purchasing decisions for them. About half of U.S. adults are wary about the impact that AI is having on daily life, according to Pew Research. Meanwhile, more Americans distrust AI in retail than trust it, with AI trust highest among younger generations, according to a YouGov survey. Only 14% would trust AI to place orders on their behalf, the same survey showed.

Nebius Group (NBIS) shareholders woke up to a life-changing Monday on March 16. The Amsterdam-based AI cloud company announced a five-year infrastructure agreement with Meta Platforms (META) worth up to $27 billion, sending shares surging 14% in premarket trading.To put that in perspective, the deal is larger than Nebius’s entire market cap of roughly $25 billion. A single customer just committed to a contract that could exceed the company’s current market value.The announcement also carries a detail that matters beyond the dollar figure. This will be one of the first large-scale deployments of Nvidia’s Vera Rubin platform, the next-generation AI chip succeeding the Blackwell architecture. That puts Nebius at the cutting edge of AI infrastructure at precisely the moment demand is accelerating fastest.How the Nebius-Meta deal is structuredThe agreement is split into two parts. The first covers $12 billion in dedicated computing capacity that Nebius will begin delivering across multiple locations starting in early 2027, CNBC reported. That infrastructure will be built around Vera Rubin clusters designed specifically for Meta’s AI training and inference workloads.The second part gives Meta the option to purchase up to $15 billion more in available compute capacity over the same five-year window. Nebius intends to sell that capacity to third-party customers first, with Meta buying whatever remains. More AI Stocks:Morgan Stanley sets jaw-dropping Micron price target after eventBank of America updates Palantir stock forecast after private meetingMorgan Stanley drops eye-popping Broadcom price targetIt is a smart structure: Meta gets guaranteed access to frontier compute, while Nebius keeps the flexibility to monetize overflow capacity to startups and enterprises.”We are pleased to expand our significant partnership with Meta as part of securing more large, long-term capacity contracts to accelerate the build-out and growth of our core AI cloud business,” Nebius CEO Arkady Volozh said in a statement.Meta and Nebius confirm a ninefold expansion of existing relationshipThe March 16 announcement did not come out of nowhere. Meta had quietly signed an initial $3 billion five-year agreement with Nebius back in November 2025. Volozh disclosed that deal alongside the company’s third-quarter earnings.Today’s announcement represents a ninefold expansion of that original commitment. The combined value of Meta’s contracted spend with Nebius now stands at $30 billion.Nebius is no stranger to mega-deals at this point. In September 2025, the company signed an infrastructure agreement with Microsoft worth up to $19.4 billion over five years. That deal, combined with the Meta expansion, means Nebius has now locked in two of the largest external compute contracts in the industry within six months.Why Meta is outsourcing compute on this scaleMeta has made AI its defining strategic priority for 2026. The company plans to direct up to $135 billion in capital expenditure toward AI-related projects this year alone, per CNBC. That is funded by its advertising profits, which continue to grow.Even for Meta, building and operating all that infrastructure in-house is slow, expensive, and complex. Neoclouds like Nebius solve that problem. They handle the hardware, the power procurement, and the cluster builds, while Meta pays for utilization.Locking in Vera Rubin capacity early gives Meta another edge. The company wants to be training its next generation of Llama models on the most advanced chips available, not the previous generation. Given how competitive the AI race has become, a six-month hardware advantage over rivals matters.Key Nebius milestones heading into 2026November 2025: Signed initial $3 billion deal with Meta, disclosed at Q3 earnings.September 2025: Signed up to $19.4 billion five-year infrastructure deal with Microsoft.March 11, 2026: Nvidia revealed a $2 billion strategic investment in Nebius.March 16, 2026: Meta deal expanded ninefold to $27 billion over five years.Q4 2025 revenue: $227.7 million, up 503% year over year, with ARR ending the year at $1.25 billion.Nebius: a remarkable backstoryFew companies in the AI infrastructure space have a more unusual origin. Nebius was founded in 2022 as the international successor to Yandex, once known as Russia’s Google.After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, founder Arkady Volozh sold all Russian assets to a Kremlin-linked consortium in July 2024 for roughly $2.4 billion. He retained the cloud and data center operations outside Russia under the Nebius name.

Nebius will help Meta streamline its AI infrastructure. Kokovlis/Getty Images

The company listed on Nasdaq in October 2024 after trading had been suspended since February 2022. Since then, shares have risen more than 200% through 2025 and a further 35% year to date in 2026 before March 16’s premarket surge.One structural advantage that traces directly to its Yandex roots: Nebius built up one of the strongest relationships with Nvidia of any customer outside the U.S. and China, giving it priority access to cutting-edge chips that competitors simply cannot match.What happens next for Nebius investorsNebius noted that its 2026 financial guidance remains unchanged, since the Meta capacity delivery does not begin until early 2027. The financial impact of this deal will materialize primarily beyond the current fiscal year.The company has guided for $7 billion to $9 billion in annual recurring revenue by the end of 2026. It also plans to reach more than 3 gigawatts of contracted power, with 800 megawatts to 1 gigawatt connected by year’s end.What the deal makes clear is that the race to supply AI infrastructure to the world’s largest technology companies is moving faster than anyone anticipated. Nebius has now positioned itself as a serious force at the center of it.Related: Bank of America resets Meta stock forecast on deal with AMD

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealSpring and summer vacations usually come with a lot of walking, lounging around the house, going out to lunch, and exploring the area, and having footwear that can hold up throughout the day while providing unmatched comfort makes it so much easier. Whether you’re wading through ocean pools or walking to dinner for the evening, we’ve found some comfortable and supportive sandals that can do it all.The Litfun Arch Support Sandals are on sale starting at just $10, and they feature orthopedic comfort for city walking or at-home lounging. Shoppers can save up to 67% off the original price of $30 for some versatile and easy-to-pack flip flops. Litfun Arch Support Sandals, From $10 (was $30) at Amazon

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Why do shoppers love it?These EVA (Ethylene-vinyl acetate) rubber shoes provide a sturdy feel with stretchy comfort. The straps stretch to fit your foot for a customizable fit, while also allowing the sandals to stay on more easily, preventing slipping and tripping, and making them more comfortable for wide feet versus normal sandals. The support features a 1.2-inch arch design that offers cushioning and can relieve pain associated with plantar fasciitis. The design is simple, featuring a cross-cut pattern on the footbed that prevents your foot from sliding around while sweating. Related: Nordstrom Rack has ‘super comfy’ $120 Ugg Goldenstar Sandals on sale for $75 in four colorsNo break-in period is required, with the EVA rubber offering a cloud-like feel with a shock-absorbing design that helps keep your feet, knees, and hips happier for longer. The non-slip soles make them perfect for indoor and outdoor use, as well as making them an ideal option for the pool. Weighing just .05 pounds, they’re also super lightweight when wearing and pack down easily to take on vacation. It’s good to note that these flip-flops will shrink if they are left sitting outside in the hot sun. It’s advised to store them inside or in the shade when not in use. The pros and cons of a $10 flip flopProsComfort: These sandals have orthopedic arch support for all-day comfort. Customization: The strap stretches to offer a comfortable fit. Lightweight portability: They only weigh .05 pounds, making them easy to wear and pack for trips.Waterproof: These fully rubber shoes are waterproof, allowing water to just drop off. Cons Limited sizing: Some of the sizes include two sizes in one, potentially making sizing difficult.Colors: The black and blue colorways for this deal may not be everyone’s favorite.Heat: They should not be left directly in the hot sun when not in use, as they will shrink.One reviewer said, “I love my sandals, they don’t make your feet sweat like some rubber sandals. The rubber is very sturdy and not wobbly, they are very lightweight, comfortable, and they are true to size.””The arch support is a godsend, and these hugged the foot nicely so they are not causing me to trip. I liked the first pair so much that I ordered a second pair,” another shopper said.Make your vacations easier with the Litfun Arch Support Sandals. The versatility these sandals bring is unmatched, offering all-day arch support, waterproof material, and a design that hugs your foot with the stretchy straps. Take them from morning coffee to evening dinner with friends. Shoppers can get these flip flops at Walmart starting at just $10, saving up to 78% off the original price. Nike Icon Classic Sandals, $45 (was $65) at Nike

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Sanuk Yoga Joy 2 Flip Flops, $16 (was $35) at Zappos

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Skechers On-The-Go Walk Arch Fit Sandals, $64 (was $71) at Zappos

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Tikvaw Arch Support Platform Sandals, from $14 (was $28) at Amazon

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Tatumie Orthopedic Mesh Sandals, $7 at Amazon

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Reef Water Higher Sandal, From $44 (was $75) at Amazon

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