The Death of Search: How Shopping Will Work In The Age of AI

In this a16z podcast episode, Alex Rampell and Justine Moore discuss the future of commerce in the age of AI, focusing on how AI agents could change online shopping habits. They explore the potential disruption of e-commerce, the impact on Google's advertising model, and the challenges and opportunities for merchants and startups. The conversation covers the types of purchases most likely to be influenced by AI, the role of affiliate marketing, and the importance of trust and curation in combating the proliferation of "crap" on the internet. They also touch on the potential for AI to optimize pricing and personalize the shopping experience, while questioning whether AI can truly inculcate demand.