Shopify Introduces AI-Enhanced Store Creator for Easier Online Selling

Published Date : 22/05/2025 

Shopify has unveiled a new AI Store Builder that allows merchants to create online stores using descriptive keywords, significantly reducing the time and resources required for website design. 

Shopify, the leading Canadian eCommerce platform, has introduced a groundbreaking tool that enables merchants to create online stores by simply entering descriptive keywords. This innovative feature, known as the 'AI Store Builder,' was announced on May 21, 2023, alongside a series of other new features designed to enhance the merchant experience.

This offering leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to generate store layouts complete with text and images based on the keywords provided by merchants. This helps them save time and resources that would otherwise be spent on designing their store website. According to Vanessa Lee, Shopify’s Vice President of Product, “Merchants can now translate a vision they have for their online store into something real much faster and without needing to code. As with everything we do here, we want to make the complicated easy so entrepreneurs can focus on what truly matters: growing their business and connecting with their customers.”

In addition to the AI Store Builder, Shopify has revamped its POS (point of sale) app to include smoother navigation and a smarter search feature. The app now also features a “ship and carry out” option, which allows customers to leave with in-stock items while the rest of their order is shipped directly to them. This feature aims to eliminate the awkward juggling of multiple items and provide a more seamless shopping experience.

Last month, Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke issued a memo to employees emphasizing the importance of AI use within the company. He stated that AI is a critical technology at a time when merchants and entrepreneurs are increasingly leveraging it, and that Shopify must ensure its software remains the best platform for these sellers to develop their businesses. Lütke emphasized, “We do this by keeping everyone cutting edge and bringing all the best tools to bear so our merchants can be more successful than they themselves used to imagine. For that, we need to be absolutely ahead.”

Lütke added that he uses AI all the time and has been encouraging employees to experiment with the technology since last summer. However, he acknowledged that his previous statement was “too much of a suggestion” and now considers AI use a baseline expectation among Shopify employees.

The potential of AI in eCommerce extends beyond just store design and point of sale improvements. PYMNTS recently reported on the potential of agentic AI in the retail sector, which allows retailers to compress browsing, selection, and checkout into a single, seamless dialogue. This shift is driven by software agents that can both fetch information and take actions on behalf of shoppers, such as adding items to carts and making payments.

Scott Hendrickson, Chief Revenue Officer of the agentic AI merchant network firmly, highlighted the importance of frictionless commerce in an interview with PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster. He stated, “What consumers really want is for commerce to happen immediately. People’s time has never been more valuable, and they expect things to be frictionless.”

Overall, Shopify’s new AI Store Builder and other AI-driven features are set to revolutionize the way merchants design and manage their online stores, making the process more efficient and user-friendly. As AI continues to evolve, it is likely to play an increasingly significant role in the eCommerce landscape, benefiting both merchants and consumers alike. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the AI Store Builder by Shopify?

A: The AI Store Builder is a tool by Shopify that allows merchants to create online stores by entering descriptive keywords. It uses artificial intelligence to generate store layouts with text and images, significantly reducing the time and resources needed for website design.

Q: What other new features did Shopify announce alongside the AI Store Builder?

A: Shopify also announced a revamped POS app with smoother navigation, a smarter search feature, and a 'ship and carry out' option, which allows customers to leave with in-stock items while the rest of their order is shipped directly to them.

Q: Why is AI considered critical for Shopify and its merchants?

A: AI is considered critical because it helps merchants and entrepreneurs leverage technology to grow their businesses more efficiently. Shopify aims to make its software the best platform for these sellers by staying ahead of the curve and providing cutting-edge tools.

Q: What is agentic AI and how is it changing eCommerce?

A: Agentic AI is a type of artificial intelligence that allows retailers to compress browsing, selection, and checkout into a single, seamless dialogue. It is driven by software agents that can fetch information and take actions on behalf of shoppers, such as adding items to carts and making payments.

Q: How does the 'ship and carry out' feature in Shopify's POS app benefit customers?

A: The 'ship and carry out' feature allows customers to leave with in-stock items immediately while the rest of their order is shipped directly to them. This eliminates the need to juggle multiple items and provides a more convenient and seamless shopping experience. 

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