New Gartner research reveals that consumers are three times more likely to use third-party AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude for customer service than a brand's own chatbot, and the implications extend far beyond support tickets. In today's episode, John connects this shift to the accelerating agentic commerce wave, explores a critical Hyvä Checkout security patch that every Magento merchant should apply immediately, and unpacks why Q1's strong retail numbers may not be what they seem heading into a tariff-heavy second half.

• Why brand chatbot investment may be misplaced and what to do instead

• How agentic commerce is reshaping product discovery and SEO priorities

• Hyvä Checkout 1.3.12 security release: payment method validation bypass explained

• Retailers stockpiling ahead of August tariffs - record port volumes projected

• Were Q1 retail results a "mirage"? What the data really says

• Amazon Shipping's aggressive pricing play against FedEx and UPS

• The one thing you can control when everything else is uncertain

Visit www.ontapgroup.com for more insights on eCommerce strategy, platform development, and preparing your business for the AI-mediated future.