AI Shopping Channels for Australian Retailers
Shoppers now buy through ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Perplexity and Copilot. Compare how each channel picks products and what your store must supply.
AI shopping channels are assistants outside your store that recommend products and, for eligible purchases, help customers buy them. Use the channel guides to compare ChatGPT, Google AI Mode, Perplexity and Copilot, then prepare the store data each one reads.
Explore this topic
- How ChatGPT Shopping Works for Australian RetailersChatGPT now recommends products and compares prices. This is how ChatGPT merchants get listed, what shopping research shows and what Australians see.
- How Google AI Shopping Works for Australian RetailersGoogle’s AI shopping features now reach Australia, and Google agentic commerce decides which products appear. Your store can sit beside big brands.
- How Perplexity Shopping Works for Australian RetailersPerplexity lets shoppers research and buy in one place. Find out what Buy with Pro offers, who can use it here and how merchants get listed.
- How Copilot Shopping Works for Australian RetailersWhen shoppers ask Microsoft Copilot what to buy, which stores appear? Learn how Copilot shopping works and what the Copilot Merchant Program needs.
The Four AI Shopping Channels Compared
The four channels combine a shopper’s request with product information, but their checkout options and Australian availability differ. Google AI Mode has an Australian rollout, while Perplexity’s Instant Buy and Microsoft’s Copilot Checkout announcements describe US shopping experiences.
| Channel | How it finds products | Where customers buy | Australian retailer’s starting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Matches the conversation to structured merchant data and other retail sources. | Retailer links, with Instant Checkout for eligible products and merchants. Its published Instant Checkout rollout covers US shoppers. | Prepare accurate product data for discovery and visits to your store. |
| Google AI Mode | Combines web results with Google’s shopping data. | Retailer checkout or selected Google checkout experiences. Google’s checkout help includes Australia for eligible merchants. | AI Mode is available in Australia in English. Start with your Merchant Center data and product pages. |
| Perplexity | Researches products across sources and reads connected merchant catalogues. | Retailer links or PayPal-powered Instant Buy in its US shopping experience. | Prepare for product research and referrals to your store. The announced native checkout audience is US shoppers. |
| Copilot | Uses the conversation and available merchant data to suggest products. | Retailer links or Copilot Checkout for eligible US shopping experiences. | Supply clear product pages and merchant data. Dedicated shopping features depend on the shopper’s market and device. |
Start with Google if you already have a Merchant Center feed for Australian shoppers. For ChatGPT, the ChatGPT catalogue feed guide explains the catalogue data used in product discovery. Each channel guide covers its own connection options and checkout conditions.
What Every Channel Reads From Your Store
Every channel needs accurate catalogue information, product pages it can understand and clear shipping and returns policies. Feed formats and connections differ, but the underlying store facts are the same.
Keep product identifiers stable and describe each size or colour separately where it changes price or stock. Match feed prices and availability to the product page. Add structured product data so machines can read the same facts customers see.
State delivery coverage, shipping charges and dispatch times plainly. Explain which products customers can return and how to start a return. A product recommendation needs those details when a shopper asks whether an item can arrive on time or be sent back.
Use the guide to fixing catalogue feed errors to correct missing attributes and mismatched stock before adding more channels. The same catalogue can also feed an AI shopping agent on your own site. Your agent can help customers find and compare your products, then buy in the chat, keeping the conversation and sale with your store.