E-Commerce — AI-Powered Commerce Accelerates: Amazon Joins Google's Universal Commerce Protocol While Rufus Users Surge 115%, and Retailers Race to Build AI Shopping Apps

E-Commerce · 2026-05-01

The e-commerce industry is entering a decisive phase in AI-powered commerce infrastructure. Amazon's decision to join Google's Universal Commerce Protocol—after initially sitting out—is the week's most strategically significant move, signaling that even the dominant marketplace now views open AI shopping standards as unavoidable. This aligns with Amazon's own data showing Rufus users up 115%,…