AI Search: The Future of Conversational Commerce in 2026

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.