Gen AI Is the New Top of Funnel for E-Commerce (But Not the Checkout… Yet) | StartupJorge

Published at : 23 Dec 2025

Gen AI platforms (ChatGPT, Perplexity, etc.) are quickly becoming the front door to commerce - meaning they’re reshaping discovery and research at the top of the funnel… even if checkout is still happening on retailer sites (for now).

In this video, I break down fresh research from @CimulateAI + Future Commerce, based on a survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers.

Key stats from the report:

-88% are familiar with Gen AI, and 69% already use it
Cimulate AI

-52% are using Gen AI for shopping research, and 49% plan to start their shopping journey there
Cimulate AI

-When AI recommends something, 77% click through to a brand/retailer site (only 23% want to check out inside the AI platform)

Trust is a blocker… until the price is right: 31% say they’d buy via Gen AI for the right deal

Biggest surprise: 30% say they’d visit stores less

If you’re a retail or ecom leader: this is what “AEO/GEO” actually looks like in consumer behavior - the funnel is getting rewired.

👉 CTA: Follow Jess Iandiorio (CMO @ Cimulate) and Cimulate, and read the research below:

Research: https://cimulate.ai/resources/gen-ai-platforms-are-becoming-the-front-door-to-commerce/

Jess (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-iandiorio-514859

Cimulate (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/cimulateai

#ecommerce #GenAI #RetailTech #AgenticCommerce #AISearch

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