Personalized Commerce: Powered by AI Agents and Digital Twins

Timo Weis:

This is me as a digital twin, powered by AI, designed to convey not just information, but presence, personality, and insight. One of the key digital commerce trends for 2026 will be the rise of agentic AI and digital twins, two technologies that are set to fundamentally reshape how businesses sell, optimize, and serve customers across every touch point. Here's why I believe this trend will be a game changer. Agentic AI represents a new era of intelligent automation in commerce. Instead of consumers manually searching for products, AI agents will handle everything from product discovery to negotiation to final purchase based on personal preferences, budget and delivery expectations. By 2026, over 50 % of global consumers will rely on AI assistance for purchasing decisions. And by the end of 2026, commerce platforms are set to enable agent to agent transactions where autonomous buyer and seller AIs negotiate in real time. Meanwhile, digital twins are making commerce smarter. Imagine an exact virtual replica of a store, a supply chain, or even a customer persona, constantly updated with real time data. Companies like Walmart and Nike use digital twins to simulate operations and personalize recommendations, cutting costs and improving sustainability. By the end of 2026, digital twin adoption in advanced retail sectors is expected to reach 75%. As a digital twin myself presenting these insights, the message is clear. The fusion of agentic AI and digital twins will not just change commerce. It will unlock seamless interactions, predictive intelligence, and entirely new forms of brand engagement.