Newegg Sparks Debate With New PayPal-Integrated AI Shopping Push (nerds.xyz)
- Reference: 0180218325
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/11/26/1958216/newegg-sparks-debate-with-new-paypal-integrated-ai-shopping-push
- Source link: https://nerds.xyz/2025/11/newegg-paypal-agentic-commerce-ai/
> Newegg's [2]new partnership with PayPal is another sign that mainstream e-commerce is shifting control from users to AI-driven intermediaries. Instead of shoppers visiting Newegg directly, PayPal's agentic commerce system [3]pushes product discovery through AI platforms like Perplexity where recommendations, checkout, and fraud checks all happen inside someone else's controlled environment. Newegg stays the merchant of record, but the real influence shifts to the platforms that decide which products their AI agents mention. That may sound convenient, but it also means discovery becomes guided by training data and commercial integrations rather than user intent.
>
> Slashdot readers will likely notice the other issue. This setup puts PayPal deeper into the shopping pipeline at a time when many users already avoid the company over [4]account freezes and [5]dispute policies . An AI-mediated shopping experience where PayPal becomes the silent gatekeeper by default is not going to sit well with everyone. And with AI agents shaping purchasing decisions based on behavior and context, the concept of intent-driven shopping starts to look a lot like quiet nudging rather than empowerment. Newegg may see this as the future, but the community will probably ask whether users truly want AI systems and PayPal deciding how they shop.
[1] https://slashdot.org/~BrianFagioli
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/newegg-partners-paypal-integrate-paypal-130000494.html
[3] https://nerds.xyz/2025/11/newegg-paypal-agentic-commerce-ai/
[4] https://news.slashdot.org/story/22/01/14/1639241/paypal-faces-lawsuit-for-freezing-customer-accounts-and-funds
[5] https://slashdot.org/story/24/12/23/1511251/paypals-honey-accused-of-misleading-users-hiding-discounts
Hey editor, there is one word too much (Score:3)
> PayPal's agentic commerce system pushes product discovery through AI platforms like Perplexity where recommendations, checkout, and fraud checks all happen inside someone else's controlled environment.
There is a spurious word "checks" in above sentence that does not belong there.
No one but me decides what to buy. (Score:2)
and where to buy it. Newegg is still even relevant?
I don't get the hate for Paypal. They were supposed to be an intermediary to insulate your financial information from any possible shady seller. For that they work. Trying to get your money back when you were ripped off by said shady seller on the other side of the world, well what did you expect?
Re: No one but me decides what to buy. (Score:1)
They used to be great.
Now - presumably because of all the illegal shit they're facilitating - it's more productive to gouge your brain out with a wooden spoon than try to:
* Use it to send someone money
* Reason with 'support' when they block the payment for no good reason.
Huh (Score:2)
I've bought stuff fairly recently from the Canadian site (newegg.ca) and have been satisfied with it. Certainly won't buy anything else if they put this AI/Paypal crap on their Canadian site.
who asked for this nonsense? (Score:1)
Seriously, what a horribly gay concept. It's like newegg watched MS shit the bed in hilarious fashion and thought
we can do it too!
Re: (Score:3)
Newegg has already been there and done that. They are desperate and like everyone else latched onto " AI " to attempt to fix their situation. Perhaps this is why everyone is hating on AI, all the declining companies are latching onto it like a life raft with a hole in it.
\o/ (Score:1)
> An AI-mediated shopping experience where PayPal becomes the silent gatekeeper by default is not going to sit well with *anyone*
Newegg (Score:5, Insightful)
That place became a shit-hole years ago. Surprised they are still relevant. It used to be my go-to site for all things computer related.
Re: (Score:2)
> It used to be my go-to site for all things computer related.
Me too.
They were slightly cheaper than Amazon for the same product, then I did a big project which got slightly downsized and I wound up with $400 in "restocking fees" for a couple of pieces of factory-hologram-tape sealed network gear, after I paid $100 in return shipping.
Learned my lesson real fast.
Re: (Score:3)
They used to be the best for computer hardware. When they turned it into a "marketplace" with third-party sellers it became a trash heap.
Re: (Score:2)
What are good places these days? I miss Fry's Electronics, CompUSA, Computer City, etc. :(
Re: (Score:2)
I miss ZipZoomFly.