The Stack: Chatbots, Commerce, and Competition

This week, AI and e-commerce collided in fresh and fascinating ways. In today’s MadTech Daily, we discuss Mark Zuckerberg’s plans for the new Meta AI app, the latest between Epic Games and Apple, as well as Microsoft’s earnings for Q1 2025.

OpenAI kicked off the week with a significant upgrade to ChatGPT, rolling out shopping features designed to make the chatbot more commercially useful. The enhancements include personalised product recommendations, images, user reviews, and direct purchase links across key categories such as fashion, beauty, home goods, and electronics. The move  firmly positions ChatGPT in the discovery commerce space.

In a further sign of OpenAI’s broader ambitions, Singapore Airlines announced a strategic partnership with the company to integrate generative AI across its operations. 

Not to be outdone, Meta made headlines of its own with the launch of a stand-alone AI assistant app. Unlike rival tools such as ChatGPT and Claude, Meta’s AI leans heavily on behavioural data from its platforms including Facebook and Instagram to serve users highly personalised responses. 

Meanwhile, TikTok is preparing for its next big act in the e-commerce space, with plans to roll out TikTok Shop in Japan within the next few months. TikTok is onboarding sellers, signalling a push to replicate its success in other markets and expand its influence in one of Asia’s most lucrative consumer economies.