2026: Agentic Commerce is Happening Now

More than 35% of product discovery is already happening inside AI-driven search experiences rather than on retailer websites.In this episode of The MAP, Hal Kimber and Nick Darby speak with Raj Balasundaram, Founder and CEO of Bayezon AI, about what this shift means for marketers, retailers, and the future of e-commerce.Hal first heard Raj speak at the Digital Leaders Summit, where he described the rise of agentic commerce — a world where AI agents increasingly sit between customers and brands.Instead of browsing product pages and comparing websites, customers can now describe what they want to AI assistants. The AI understands intent, evaluates options, and presents answers instantly.In the conversation, Hal, Nick, and Raj explore:• Why intent-first shopping could replace traditional product search• Why AI interfaces are becoming a major new product discovery channel• How retailers may need to build dynamic, AI-driven store experiences• Why brands must start architecting their systems for AI agents — not just humans• How removing friction from the buying journey could reshape e-commerceRaj argues that this shift is not a distant future scenario. Consumer behaviour is already changing — and brands that fail to adapt risk disappearing from the buying journey entirely.For marketers and e-commerce leaders, the question becomes:If AI agents increasingly guide the buying journey, how do brands remain visible, trusted, and chosen?About the GuestRaj Balasundaram is Founder and CEO of Bayezon AI, which recently launched what it describes as the world’s first agentic commerce platform, designed to help retailers and brands interact with AI agents and deliver more personalised, frictionless commerce experiences.https://www.bayezon.ai/