In today's episode, John breaks down a packed day of eCommerce developments that all point to one theme: AI is taking over the decision layer in digital commerce, and your data quality determines whether it works for or against you. From Google's sweeping AI Max expansion into Standard Shopping campaigns to a crafts retailer that built an AI assistant in just six weeks, this episode covers what's changing and what merchants need to do about it right now.

• Google AI Max spotted in Standard Shopping campaigns: what this means for advertiser control and product feed strategy

• Google says AI Max unlocks "billions of new monetizable searches" and publishes DSA sunset migration guidance

• Michaels launches "Ask Mike" AI shopping assistant built with Google Gemini in only six weeks, handling 75,000 conversations

• OpenAI and Yelp partner to feed real-time reviews, ratings, and photos into ChatGPT recommendations

• European Commission fines Google nearly €890 million under the Digital Markets Act

• La-Z-Boy expands 3D cloud product imagery to replace manual rendering

• Tractor Supply partners with Instacart for same-day delivery from 2,400+ stores

• Google Ads API v25 introduces loyalty campaign goals and YouTube metrics

• Hyvä ecosystem continues strong update cadence across theme releases

For more insights on eCommerce strategy and digital commerce trends, visit www.ontapgroup.com