The AI shopping partnership map reveals a striking pattern: Shopify sits at the center. Amazon sits alone. Everyone else is hedging by partnering with multiple platforms.
Shopify connects to ALL AI platforms: Google (UCP co-developer), OpenAI (ACP integration), and Microsoft (Copilot auto-enrollment). Infrastructure for BOTH UCP and ACP protocols. Millions of merchants gain instant AI distribution. Wins regardless of which protocol dominates.
Amazon’s Fortress Strategy
Amazon is completely isolated from the partnership web. Blocking 47+ AI bots from crawling its catalog. No partnerships with Google, OpenAI, or Microsoft. Building its own AI shopping through Alexa+ and Rufus. Bet: 40% market share is fortress enough.
Shopify sits at the center connecting everyone. Amazon sits alone defending its fortress. The rest of the industry is hedging across platforms because no one knows which protocol will win—but everyone knows who the common competitor is.
Gennaro is the creator of FourWeekMBA, which reached about four million business people, comprising C-level executives, investors, analysts, product managers, and aspiring digital entrepreneurs in 2022 alone | He is also Director of Sales for a high-tech scaleup in the AI Industry | In 2012, Gennaro earned an International MBA with emphasis on Corporate Finance and Business Strategy.
