Shopify has introduced its AI Store Builder, a tool that makes setting up online shops as simple as typing a few keywords. Announced at Shopify’s Editions event on 21 May 2025, this new feature highlights Shopify’s drive to bring artificial intelligence into every part of its platform.
With this tool, anyone can launch a professional online shop, complete with layouts, images, and content, in just minutes. Shopify is making it much easier for people to start selling online, shaping a future where business owners describe what they want, and AI handles the setup.
The AI Store Builder is Shopify’s first tool to fully automate the website creation process. Earlier AI features helped with single tasks, like writing product details or creating images, but this new tool covers everything.
Merchants type in a few keywords—such as “eco-friendly sportswear” or “unique handmade ceramics”—and the AI creates three different shop designs, each with images, copy, and product pages that match the brand’s style. Vanessa Lee, Shopify’s vice president of product, said that instead of making users build their sites step by step, they decided to ask open questions and let AI do the hard work.
The process is straightforward. Merchants give a prompt describing their products or business, and within minutes, the AI returns a shop ready for launch. Users can then fine-tune details in Shopify’s editor, but the main structure, content, and even some SEO is already sorted by AI.
This removes the need for coding or design skills, which often stop new business owners from getting started. For solo traders or small businesses short on time, this tool makes it possible to move straight to marketing and serving customers without wrestling with the technical side.
Shopify’s AI: More Than Store Building
The AI Store Builder fits into Shopify’s larger push to build an AI-driven platform. Since 2023, Shopify Magic has helped shops write product descriptions, send marketing emails, and improve images using tools like one-click background removal.
There’s also Sidekick, an AI assistant for commerce, now updated with voice and screen-sharing features. Sidekick works much like a consultant, reviewing shop data to answer questions such as why sales dropped and offering advice on discounts or stock management.
Sidekick can look through sales, orders, and customer trends to find problems and suggest fixes. If conversions drop, Sidekick analyses data by region or customer type and recommends targeted promotions. Since its general release in December 2024, the number of people using Sidekick each month has more than doubled, showing its value to shop owners.
Shopify’s AI push also supports developers. Using Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol, outside developers can build their own AI assistants that access live Shopify data, including product lists and customer orders. This leads to more personalised shopping experiences, where AI helpers suggest items or manage baskets based on how shoppers behave in real time.
AI’s Role in Modern E-Commerce
Shopify’s AI tools are part of a wider trend across online retail. Traditionally, building a shop took technical knowledge, design skills, and a lot of time. Many small businesses ended up with basic sites or paid high fees to agencies. Shopify’s AI-powered features change this, letting anyone create a shop with just a few words.
AI does more than build shops. Shopify Magic and Sidekick automate routine jobs like writing SEO-friendly product copy, creating marketing content, or keeping track of stock. This gives merchants more time to focus on growing their brand.
For example, Shopify Magic can write product details tailored to a brand’s tone and include keywords to help products show up in Google searches. AI search tools such as Boost use natural language to understand what customers want and make better product recommendations, which can lift sales.
Research from Gartner suggests that by 2026, 60% of new websites and apps will use AI. Shopify’s early start with these features puts it in a strong position to attract businesses looking for easy, powerful tools. Rick Watson, founder of RMW Commerce Consulting, remarked that Shopify is moving quickly, but some features aimed at developers may take time to show their full value.
Shopify Stores: The Core of Online Retail
Shopify remains a top choice for entrepreneurs, running millions of online shops globally. Its success comes from flexibility and scale, supporting everyone from individual makers to large companies. The platform covers web hosting, payments, stock management, and analytics, all in one place. New AI tools like the Store Builder and Sidekick add even more value, helping merchants stand out in a crowded online market.
Shopify shops are popular for their simple setup and wide customisation options. Merchants can pick from thousands of themes, build their designs, add apps for extra features, and sell across social media or in physical shops. The updated point-of-sale app, launched alongside the AI Store Builder, makes it easier to sell in person, supports over 130 currencies, and helps global businesses cut down on admin work.
For merchants, Shopify’s strength lies in making complex tasks simple. The AI Store Builder takes away much of the stress of getting started. Feedback from users shows that Shopify Magic creates content in seconds that matches their brand, even in multiple languages. Others have found Sidekick’s data analysis and discount suggestions save hours each week.
Looking Ahead: Declarative Commerce
Shopify’s idea of “declarative commerce” sums up its approach: merchants state what they want, and the technology makes it happen. This mirrors CEO Tobi Lütke’s view that AI must be part of everything Shopify does, from building products to staff reviews. By reducing technical hurdles, Shopify lets entrepreneurs focus on what matters most: creativity and customers.
The AI Store Builder marks a big step towards this future, though some users may still want to tweak their shops to stand out. As more companies offer AI-powered shop builders, Shopify will need to keep its tools ahead of rivals like Wix and Squarespace.
Shopify’s AI Store Builder does more than add a new feature. It changes how people start and run online shops. By letting anyone build a complete store using only a few keywords, Shopify is opening up access to professional online selling.
With Shopify Magic and Sidekick helping out, the platform is reshaping e-commerce, making it faster, smarter, and easier to use. As AI continues to shape online retail, Shopify’s latest updates put it in a strong place to help entrepreneurs succeed.
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