AI chat bot

Topic summary

The original poster is launching an AI automation business and seeks feedback on AI chatbot usage in e-commerce stores, asking about experiences and desired features.

Mixed perspectives emerged:

  • Skeptical view: One experienced store owner/builder strongly dislikes most AI chatbots, finding them frustrating when they can’t solve issues or take actual actions. They prefer well-organized FAQ pages and warn that bots disappoint customers expecting human interaction.

  • Supportive responses: Several participants report positive experiences, noting AI chatbots handle repetitive inquiries 24/7, increase customer satisfaction, and drive conversions while saving time.

Key features identified as valuable:

  • Product recommendations with in-bot purchasing capability
  • Integration with ChatGPT and e-commerce-specific training
  • Custom flows for common questions (shipping, returns, sizing)
  • Seamless handoff to human agents when needed
  • CRM/email integration for follow-ups
  • Fast response times for FAQs and order tracking

Current state: Multiple vendors promoted their Shopify chatbot solutions. The discussion remains open, with the original poster clarifying their bot offers ChatGPT integration and direct purchasing capabilities—features closer to what skeptics want to see.

Summarized with AI on October 27. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.

Hello, just looking to see how many people out there are using AI chat bots on their e-commerce store and how the experience has been so far?

If you’re not using one how interested are you in seeing what one can do for your store? What features would it need to have?

Asking because I am starting up a business dealing in ai and automations. Curious to hear the feedback.

2 Likes

There are definitely a handful of options for adding an AI chatbot to your Shopify store.

https://apps.shopify.com/search?q=ai%20chat

Speaking as a store owner, a person who builds stores for others, and someone who shops online a lot – I really don’t like AI chat bots. The overwhelming majority of the time that I encounter them, they don’t actually solve the issue I have – or I’ve already read the help docs that they provide, and I just want to speak to a real person. I would never recommend adding an AI chatbot to my clients. A well organized FAQ page/section is much less frustrating to deal with. It’s also a huge turnoff to customers when they think they’ll be able to speak to a real person, but instead end up chatting to a bot (isn’t good for branding or customer service, imo).

PS: Sorry to anyone who runs an AI chatbot app – I don’t mean to be a hater, but the AI chats drive me insane sometimes. Until AI can accurately make changes (ie. actually do things / take action), and not just reply with text and links, I don’t see the value gain, aside from assisting folks who are inexperienced browsing websites (which is becoming less common every year).

Thanks Stephen, the bot that I have is a little different than most, it implements chatgpt like others can’t. Giving it a knowledgebase to work off it can give product recommendations and it has its own e-commerce store within the bot and can take customers from finding a product to buying right in the bot. Is that more of what you’re talking about with taking actions?

That definitely sounds closer to what I was describing :slightly_smiling_face:

Got it, would sometime like that would be of interest for you or your customers with those kind of features?

hi You can try QuickCEP AI Chatbot+livechat, it can help you solve the problem of responding to customers in a timely manner, and colleagues It can also be your help

I would strongly suggest that you try one of the latest Shopify AI Chatbots out there before making up your mind. I do agree that traditionally these chatbots were terrible - doing more harm than good. However, in recent months technology has made huge progress and while it won’t be useful for everyone, some clients do see value…

Hi, the chat AI is blocked. It keeps searching and shows me a message saying “Unable to establish a connection.” I have a reload button, but I have used it hundreds of times and it doesn’t work. My shop is blocked and I don’t know where I can connect with support.

Hi Paddleballsport, you can check out Carty. It’s built on ChatGPT technologies and has been specifically trained for e-commerce, making it a great fit for your needs

From my experience, an AI chatbot is a good option in e-commerce, handling repetitive inquiries 24/7, offering personalized responses. It’s saved us hours, increased customer satisfaction, and driven conversions, making it a highly valuable asset.

It got me thinking—what do you guys think of Character AI software? Have you tried it before, and if so, what do you usually do with it? Personally, I find it fascinating how it can simulate human-like conversations or even role-play in specific scenarios. It’s great for brainstorming creative ideas, engaging in fun dialogues, or even practicing social skills in a safe environment. Some people use it for storytelling, creating dialogues for their books, or just as a companion when they want someone to chat with

Hey, great question! I work in eCommerce industry for some time now (mostly with Shopify stores) and also collaborate closely with Tidio, so I’ve seen AI chatbots in action across a bunch of industries.

From what I’ve observed, stores that implement AI chatbots well tend to see a noticeable improvement in:

  • Response time (especially for FAQs and order tracking)
  • Lead capture (via pre-qualifying questions)
  • Cart recovery and product recommendations

That said, success really depends on how well the bot is set up. It needs to feel helpful, not robotic or pushy.

For Shopify specifically, features that tend to make a difference are:

  • Custom flows for common questions (like shipping, returns, sizing, etc.)

  • Smart product suggestions based on customer input

  • Seamless handoff to a human when needed

  • Integration with email or CRM tools for follow-ups

Happy to share some real examples or setup tips if you’re experimenting with this in your new business—curious what niche you’re focusing on?