Shopify launches AI Store Builder, a tool that instantly creates e-commerce sites from simple keyword prompts

Shopify has made it much easier for merchants to set up their online store. On Wednesday, the eCommerce Giant introduced a new feature called AI Store Builder. This allows users to generate a fully designed e-commerce site with just a few written keywords.

This tool creates three layout options with images and text, providing a simple starting point for sellers to launch their storefront.

This is the first time Shopify has fully automated its store setup process within the platform. It already offers AI-powered tools and third-party apps, but supports building stores, but this feature goes further by removing most manual tasks.

“While Shopify offers a variety of AI-based tools and third-party applications to help merchants build stores, AI Store Builder is the first integrated feature that fully automates the website setup process,” Reuters reported.

“Instead of merchants clicking and dragging through text fields and filling out the drag and filling out how they want their site to look, this can be really cranky, but I don’t ask open-ended questions and set up my store with the best caricatures I can imagine using AI.

The goal is to lower the entry barrier for sellers who may not have the time, budget or design skills to get the storefront away from the ground. AI tools simplify the process by converting short prompts into almost complete sites.

Shopify has been leaning heavily towards AI in recent years. From image generation to inventory tools, the company stacks features designed to give merchants an edge. AI Store Builder is another step in that direction. This time we are heading towards the center of the store building process.

This could be a faster way to get started without staring at a blank screen, especially for new sellers.

Shopify was founded in 2004 by Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand and Scott Lake and was about to open Snowdevil, an online store for snowboarding equipment. Frustrated with existing e-commerce products on the market, Lütke has instead built himself. In 2018 alone, Shopify sold over $41.1 billion in products on its platform.