Agentic AI: Is It the Future of Shopping?

Introduction

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has released a new report exploring the rapid rise of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) and the privacy concerns that may come with it. The report focuses on how agentic AI could soon operate as a digital assistant—making decisions, taking actions, and even shopping on behalf of users.

What Is Agentic AI?

Agentic AI refers to AI systems designed to act independently. Unlike standard AI tools that respond only when asked, agentic AI could:

• Plan tasks automatically

• Make decisions without constant user input

• Carry out actions such as purchases or bookings

• Anticipate what the user may need next

These systems are expected to become more common within the next five years, according to the report.

How Agentic AI Could Be Used in Daily Life

The ICO suggests agentic AI could soon function like a personal assistant or “shopping agent” that can:

• Track deals and sales events

• Make purchases automatically

• Compare prices across sellers

• Arrange financing agreements

• Negotiate prices with businesses

As people continue training their AI assistants over time, these “AI-gents” may become highly personalised—learning spending habits, preferences, and priorities.

Why Privacy and Data Protection Are a Concern

While the technology could be convenient, the ICO highlights serious privacy and data protection risks.

To operate effectively, agentic AI could require access to sensitive personal information, including:

• Bank accounts and payment details

• Spending patterns and budgets

• Purchase history

• Personal preferences and lifestyle data

This raises key concerns around:

• How data is collected and stored

• Whether users fully understand what they are sharing

• Who has access to the data

• How decisions are made and whether they can be challenged

Could Agentic AI Become the Next Big Economic Shift?

The report notes that many experts believe agentic AI could become a major driver of economic growth. Some even suggest it may have a bigger long-term impact on finance and the global economy than the internet.

However, not everyone agrees. The ICO report also recognises that some voices are more cautious, suggesting the capabilities of agentic AI may be overstated and the hype may be moving faster than reality.

ICO’s View: Early Thinking, Not New Regulation

The ICO’s report is not a new legal framework or formal guidance. Instead, it reflects the regulator’s early understanding of the direction AI is heading.

The ICO is focusing on how agentic AI could create new challenges for:

• Privacy

• Data protection compliance

• Information rights

• Trust in digital systems

A Positive Side: AI Could Support Privacy Too

Interestingly, the report also points out that agentic AI could help strengthen privacy and data protection if designed responsibly.

For example, agentic AI could potentially:

• Flag privacy risks automatically

• Support compliance processes

• Help users understand data permissions

• Reduce human error in handling sensitive information

Conclusion

Agentic AI has the potential to reshape how people shop, manage money, and interact with businesses. But for it to succeed, it must earn user trust—and that means privacy and data protection must be taken seriously from the start.

The full report is available on the ICO website for anyone who wants to explore the findings in more detail.