- SHOP HAUL
- Posts
- Edition No #49
In partnership with
Why AI Isn’t Replacing Affiliate Marketing After All
“AI will make affiliate marketing irrelevant.”
Our new research shows the opposite.
Levanta surveyed 1,000 US consumers to understand how AI is influencing the buying journey. The findings reveal a clear pattern: shoppers use AI tools to explore options, but they continue to rely on human-driven content before making a purchase.
Here is what the data shows:
Less than 10% of shoppers click AI-recommended links
Nearly 87% discover products on social platforms or blogs before purchasing on marketplaces
Review sites rank higher in trust than AI assistants
Edition 49 is here
This edition is about a shift that’s easy to miss if you’re too busy optimizing buttons. Something fundamental is changing underneath e-commerce. Storefronts are becoming less important, conversations more important. AI agents are moving closer to the moment of purchase, product data is turning into the real interface, and brands are being evaluated by machines before humans ever see them.
At the same time, the brands that stand out this week aren’t chasing novelty. They’re clear, confident, and intentional. Strong products, strong identities, and fewer tricks. The kind of businesses that will still work when the storefront becomes invisible.
Edition 49 is about reading the signals early. Not reacting in panic, but understanding what actually matters next and where to focus before everyone else does.