The Quiet Commercialization of AI
The future of commerce isn’t ads—it’s invisible intent capture.
OpenAI just added shopping features to ChatGPT. No ads, they say—just “organic” recommendations based on your preferences, conversations, and analysis of trusted reviews.
Cool.
But honestly—I feel like every cool tech wave eventually just bends toward conversion.
We’ve seen this movie before: first it’s free, then it’s helpful, then it’s monetized. Except this time, the experience feels different. Cleaner. More personal. Like a smart friend helping you find the right thing. No banner ads. No sponsored results.
But here’s the thing:
When the tool knows your preferences, your convos, your intent…
It doesn’t need ads.
It has you.
This is the shift. We’re not escaping the funnel—we’re becoming the funnel.
The product isn’t being pushed at you; you’re being pulled into it. Subtly. Seamlessly. With every query, every follow-up, every “what’s the best version of X?”—you’re feeding a conversion machine that doesn’t look or feel like one.
That’s not inherently evil. It’s efficient. It’s likely helpful. But it’s also a little… unnerving.
The Illusion of Neutrality
AI feels neutral, but it’s not. It reflects patterns, preferences, and incentives. And once commerce enters the picture, the line between “recommendation” and “revenue stream” blurs fast.
Just because there’s no “Sponsored” label doesn’t mean the funnel’s not there. It just means you’re less likely to notice when you’ve stepped into it.
And that’s the real unlock for these platforms—not just data-driven targeting, but intent-aware conversion flow baked directly into your trusted interface.
Why This Matters
If you’re building tools, leading a startup, or setting internal policies around how tech is used, this moment matters. Because your people will soon rely on tools that shape decisions through quiet persuasion, not just explicit direction.
And if you're in charge of tech strategy, vendor choices, or internal LLM access—you’re not just deciding what tools people use.
You're deciding how commerce enters your workplace.
The Funnel 2.0 isn’t loud. It’s helpful.
It doesn’t advertise. It recommends.
It doesn’t chase you. It waits for you to ask.
And when you do?
You’re already halfway to checkout.