Shopify Allows AI Apps to Search for External Brands

Shopify has added a new parameter named sources to the search_catalog method in the Catalog API, enabling AI applications to search for brands that do not sell on Shopify alongside merchant products.

The parameter returns Shopify merchant products, external brand products, or both in a single response ranked by relevance, expanding the scope of results that the application can display to the user.

External results include a description, image, price, and a link to the product page on the brand's website. They always appear with the property eligible.native_checkout: false and do not generate commission from Promoted Placements.

The parameter's usage in the beta phase is limited to shoppers in the United States, and the change is part of Shopify's developer changelog.

What do these terms mean?

Catalog API: An API that allows applications to read, search, and display product data to users.

Parameter: A setting added to a programming request to define its behavior, such as specifying the required sources of results.

Native checkout: Completing a purchase within the app or store itself without redirecting to another website.

Promoted Placements: Paid ad placements within Shopify results that give a product higher visibility in exchange for a commission.

Beta: A test version of a new feature made available to a limited number of users before general release.