AI adoption is no longer a race for speed, it is a competition for provable quality. In 2026, “work with AI” only works if you can demonstrate governed outputs at scale: QA gates, red teaming, audit trails, monitoring, and human-in-the-loop controls where risk is real. This guide explains the frameworks (NIST, OWASP, EU AI Act, ISO 42001) and gives a practical step-by-step system to ship AI safely, credibly, and profitably.

AI search is shifting from “answers” to “assisted buying.” Google AI Mode is starting to surface product recommendations, incentives, and even checkout flows inside the conversation, powered by the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) and pilots like Direct Offers. This guide explains what’s changing, why it matters for ecommerce and performance teams, and how to respond without destroying margin. You’ll get a practical framework for feed readiness, offer governance, and incrementality measurement in the new AI commerce funnel.