Platform-Owned Agents: The New Gatekeepers of Commerce
In the rapidly evolving world of agentic commerce, one silent but powerful shift is reshaping digital markets — the rise of platform-owned AI agents . These intelligent intermediaries, built and controlled by major platforms like Amazon, Google, and Meta, are quickly becoming the new gatekeepers of online buying and selling . While they promise convenience and automation, they also raise serious questions about visibility, competition, and brand independence in the next era of digital trade. The Power Shift to Platform Agents In the early days of e-commerce, search engines and marketplaces connected users to businesses. But in agentic commerce , AI agents act on behalf of users , interpreting needs, comparing options, and completing purchases automatically. When these agents are owned by platforms , they control which products get recommended, which brands are visible, and even how transactions occur — all within their ecosystems. Think of Alexa making product decisions for use...