a16z Podcast
The web is unhealthy, and AI agents are about to rewrite how we shop.
In this episode, a16z General Partner Alex Rampell and Partner Justine Moore explore how AI agents will change commerce and the implications for Google’s business model, affiliate marketing, online shopping, and more.
Timecodes:
0:00 Introduction
0:12 The Role of AI Agents in Commerce
1:28 Affiliate Marketing & Impulse Buys
4:02 Observing Consumer Behavior & AI
6:08 Dynamic Pricing & E-commerce Trends
7:20 Online vs. Offline Shopping Behaviors
10:09 The Challenge of Attribution in Commerce
12:19 Aggregators, Brands, and Business Models
15:24 Trend Cycles & Single SKU Retailers
17:49 Google, Search, and the Freemium Model
22:41 The Unhealthy Web & Commercialization
26:04 Video Reviews & Trust in Commerce
29:10 The Costco Model & Consumer Trust
33:15 AI’s Impact on Different Types of Purchases
39:56 The Future: Specialized Shopping Agents
40:16 Opportunities for New Durable Companies
44:18 The Merchant Side: Infrastructure for AI Agents
Resources:
Read the article: http://a16z.com/ai-x-commerce/
Find Alex on X: https://x.com/arampell
Find Justine on X: https://x.com/venturetwins
Stay Updated:
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends!
Find a16z on X: https://x.com/a16z
Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z
Listen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX
Listen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711
Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg
Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
Stay Updated:
Find a16z on X
Find a16z on LinkedIn
Listen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify
Listen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Follow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg
Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
-
Inside a16z with Ben & Marc: Dream Builders Only
Recorded live at the 2025 a16z LP Summit, this episode is a candid conversation between a16z cofounders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz—hosted by general partner Erik Torenberg. They cover the evolution of a16z from startup…
-
Unbundling the BPO: How AI Is Disrupting Outsourced Work
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is a $300 billion industry powering the back- and front-office operations of the world’s largest companies. In her article, “Unbundling the BPO: How AI Will Disrupt Outsourced Work,” Kimberly Tan (Partner,…
-
Marc Andreessen: Deep Vs. Broad Founders, AI in America, & the New Face of a16z
Today on the a16z Podcast, we’re sharing Marc Andreessen’s recent appearance on TBPN. Marc—cofounder and general partner at a16z—joins hosts John Coogan and Jordi Hays for a wide-ranging conversation, recorded live at the a16z’s 2025…
-
What Super Agers Reveal About Preventing Disease
American healthcare is in crisis—but what if we could change the system by preventing disease before it starts? In this episode of the a16z Podcast, general partner Vijay Pande sits down with Dr. Eric Topol,…
-
Startups & Defense: Katherine Boyle on TBPN
In this episode of th a16z Podcast, we’re sharing Katherine Boyle’s recent interview on TBPN. Katherine—General Partner at a16z and the architect of the American Dynamism thesis—joins hosts John Coogan and Jordi Hays to discuss…
-
Do You Really Know Your ICP? Why It Matters and How to Find Out
Your ideal customer profile (ICP) is the north star for your entire company: it determines who you’re building for and selling to. Though most growth-stage founders think they know who their ICP is, very few…
-
The Software Crisis Behind America’s Infrastructure
Today’s critical infrastructure—air traffic, logistics, defense—is powered by legacy software. And that’s a problem. In this episode, recorded live at the a16z American Dynamism Summit, a16z partner Leila Hay sits down with Phillip Buckendorf, CEO…
-
What Comes After Mobile? Meta’s Andrew Bosworth on AI and Consumer Tech
Are we nearing the end of the smartphone era? In this episode, a16z Growth General Partner David George talks with Meta CTO Andrew “Boz” Bosworth about what comes after apps and touchscreens. From smart glasses…
-
The Dual-Use Founder: Vets Now Building For America
In today’s world, the battlefield extends far beyond war zones—it’s embedded in our tech stacks, supply chains, and airspace security systems. So who better to solve these modern challenges than those who’ve served on the…
-
The Future of Drone Warfare
War has always been shaped by technology—from steel and gunpowder to GPS and nuclear weapons. But the decisive technologies of tomorrow aren’t coming—they’re already here. In this episode, recorded live at our third annual American…
