OpenAI’s new AI Agent can order your groceries 🤖!

What if AI could do your customer outreach, process orders, and even optimize your ads—without you lifting a finger? We’re not there yet, but let’s just say… that future isn’t far off 🫣.

Hey there, and welcome to another issue of The Ecom Press 🗞️!

OpenAI just dropped an AI agent that can shop for groceries, book reservations, and fill out forms like your personal digital assistant. Wild, right ​​😱?

Meanwhile, Threads is finally testing ads (because, of course, Meta’s gotta Meta), and Home Depot is making shopping even more seamless by teaming up with DoorDash and Uber Eats for on-demand deliveries 🚚💨.

So much to unpack, and we’re just getting started. If you’re ready, let’s slide in ⛷️!

In a rush? Here's the juice🤭:

🤖 OpenAI’s new AI Agent can order your groceries!

📺 Meta tests ads on Threads!

🚚 Home Depot partners with DoorDash and Uber Eats for faster deliveries.

🧰 Tool Spotlight: 5 Website Builders to Consider in 2025.

⚡️Worthy Mentions

🤖 OpenAI’s new AI Agent can order your groceries!

OpenAI has unveiled Operator, a new AI-powered agent designed to automate online tasks like ordering groceries, booking reservations, and filling out forms. Announced as a research preview, Operator marks OpenAI’s move toward autonomous AI assistants capable of mimicking human interactions with websites by clicking, scrolling, and typing.

Currently available exclusively to ChatGPT Pro users in the U.S., Operator collaborates with platforms like DoorDash, Instacart, OpenTable, Priceline, Uber, and StubHub to improve user experiences and streamline online interactions.

Here’s the scoop 🍨:

🤔 What it does: Operator can browse the web, interact with interfaces, and execute simple online tasks like making restaurant reservations, submitting online forms, and shopping for groceries. Unlike traditional AI chatbots, it functions more like a virtual assistant that actively engages with websites.

🔧 How it works: Built on OpenAI’s Computer-Using Agent (CUA) model, Operator visually processes information by “seeing” a webpage and deciding how to navigate it. Users provide a task, and the AI autonomously completes the steps—clicking buttons, filling fields, and confirming purchases.

🚀 Early access & expansion plans: Available to ChatGPT Pro users ($200/month), with plans to roll it out to Plus, Team, and Enterprise users. OpenAI also aims to integrate it into ChatGPT’s core features in the future.

🔒 Privacy & safety: Operator requires human input for sensitive actions like entering passwords and payment details, ensuring users stay in control. OpenAI has implemented safeguards to prevent fraud, data leaks, and unauthorized actions.

⚠️ Current limitation: Operator struggles with complex tasks like managing calendars, handling CAPTCHAs, and working with intricate interfaces. OpenAI acknowledges that Operator is a work in progress and aims to refine its capabilities through user feedback.

Why it matters 🤷‍♂️

Imagine an AI assistant that handles repetitive customer interactions—placing bulk orders, submitting invoices, or managing reservations—all without human intervention. If this evolves successfully, AI-powered ecommerce automation could be the next big competitive edge.

However, there’s also a trust factor. How much control are users willing to give AI over sensitive actions? With privacy concerns already surrounding AI, businesses need to assess the risks before fully embracing AI-driven automation.

📺 Meta tests ads on Threads!

Meta is testing ads on Threads, its microblogging app launched in 2023 to rival X (formerly Twitter). Announced by Instagram head Adam Mosseri, this experiment is starting with select brands in the U.S. and Japan, as Threads continues to grow with over 300 million monthly active users.

Mosseri emphasized that the ads are designed to feel organic and relevant to users, adding that Meta will monitor feedback before expanding the program further. The goal? To integrate ads that feel as engaging as regular Threads posts.

Here’s the lowdown ⬇️:

👶 A small-scale start: Threads is introducing image-based ads to a limited number of users in the U.S. and Japan. These ads will appear in the home feed, labeled as "Sponsored" for transparency.

🕹️ Advertiser tools and controls: Brands testing the ads can use Meta’s brand-safety tools, ensuring their content doesn’t show up next to offensive material. Users will also have the option to report ads or manage preferences for ad topics.

💸 Threads’ monetization journey: This marks Meta’s first attempt to generate revenue from Threads. While Meta isn’t expecting Threads to drive significant revenue in 2025, investors are optimistic about its potential to replicate Twitter’s pre-Musk success, with revenues once hitting $5 billion annually.

Why it matters 🧐

This is big news because it signals a potential new avenue for reaching audiences. Early adopters of Threads ads may benefit from lower competition and premium ad placements during this testing phase. Think of it as getting in on Instagram’s early ad days—when CPMs were lower and engagement was high.

It’s also a chance to explore how Meta’s “organic-feeling” ads perform in a fresh space. In the end, Threads could become a valuable channel for personalized promotions, so if you’ve got the chance to experiment with it, give it a shot.

🚚 Home Depot partners with DoorDash and Uber Eats for faster deliveries.

Home Depot recently announced new partnerships with DoorDash and Uber Eats, allowing customers to get home improvement supplies delivered on-demand or via scheduled delivery. 

With over 2,000 participating locations nationwide, this expansion makes it easier than ever for customers to access tools, building materials, and other essentials—whether for a professional job or a weekend DIY project.

Here are the deets 🤭: 

📦 New on-demand delivery options: Home Depot customers can now order through DoorDash and Uber Eats, expanding beyond its existing Instacart partnership. This allows for same-day delivery, including scheduled drop-offs for convenience.

🛠 What you can get: A variety of products—from power tools to garden supplies—are available for delivery. The service caters to both DIY enthusiasts and professionals needing quick access to materials.

🚚 How it works: Customers simply search for The Home Depot on DoorDash or Uber Eats, add items to their cart, and choose an instant or scheduled delivery option. Orders are fulfilled from participating Home Depot stores and can be tracked in real-time.

🛒 No membership required: Unlike some premium services, Home Depot’s DoorDash and Uber Eats deliveries don’t require a subscription. This makes it accessible to a wider audience, including one-time or infrequent buyers.

Why it matters 🤨

It’s no news that fast, flexible delivery is the order of the day. Customers today want the same instant convenience for home improvement supplies that they do for groceries and takeout. But then, this highlights a key strategy for scaling fulfillment without massive logistics investments—leveraging third-party delivery platforms. 

In short? The speed of delivery is becoming a competitive advantage, and the brands that move fast will win over today’s convenience-driven shoppers.

🛎️ The Ecom Press Insider

Ecom Fact: Shopify dominates the hosted website builder space, powering 31% of all sites built using a hosted solution. And if you count Shopify Plus—their enterprise-level plan—that share jumps to 36% (Source: Builtwith).

If businesses are skipping traditional site builders and going straight to platforms designed for selling, maybe there’s a lesson there. Why settle for a static website when you can build one that works for you—bringing in customers, processing sales, and growing your brand all in one place 😉?

🧰 Tool Spotlight: 5 Website Builders to Consider in 2025.

A website isn’t just a URL—it’s your brand’s digital storefront, voice, and connection to your audience. Whether you’re building an online shop, a blog, or a course empire, here are five top website builders to kickstart your 2025 goals.

1. Hostinger Website Builder – Best for Simplicity and Value 💡: Affordable, beginner-friendly, and packed with features, Hostinger is perfect for small businesses, influencers, and personal portfolios. It offers drag-and-drop design and even lets you scale to WordPress with a single click when you’re ready to grow.

2. Shopify – Best for Dedicated Ecommerce 🛍️: For online stores, Shopify’s powerful inventory tools, POS system, and endless integrations make it the go-to platform. Whether it’s dropshipping, print-on-demand, or managing a warehouse, Shopify handles it all while keeping things user-friendly.

3. WordPress (with Hostinger) – Best for Large and Advanced Websites 📚: WordPress powers over 40% of the web for a reason. It’s ideal for large blogs, content-heavy sites, or selling digital products. Pair it with Hostinger for affordable hosting and enjoy unmatched flexibility with plugins and SEO tools.

4. Webflow – Best for Animated and Dynamic Websites 🌟: Want a stunning website with animations that pop? Webflow is perfect for agencies, startups, or anyone wanting a “wow” factor. It’s more advanced but incredibly rewarding—no coding required (unless you want to).

5. Kajabi – Best for Online Courses and Coaching 📖: If you’re creating courses or hosting webinars, Kajabi is an all-in-one platform to manage content, schedule sessions, and handle payments. Simple and professional, it’s the tool for turning knowledge into revenue.

Picking the right platform is your first step toward online success. Need extra guidelines? Watch this video on our YouTube channel for more insights ▶️!

⚡️Worthy Mentions

• X launches new video tab to rival TikTok in the U.S. market.

• Netflix to hike prices again, after gaining 19 million new subscribers.

• X and Visa partner to bring instant payments to social platform.

• MrBeast teams up with investors to acquire TikTok before deadline. 

• Chinese AI challenger DeepSeek dethrones ChatGPT as top free app on U.S. app store.

Wrapping up…

Another week, another shake-up in ecommerce! Threads is stepping into the ad game, Home Depot is speeding up deliveries, and AI agents are basically running errands like a futuristic personal assistant 🤖.

Who knows—maybe in the near future, we’ll be reporting AI closing deals and handling customer support 📞. The way things are going, nothing’s off the table 🫣.

For now, stay curious, and hey—hit that subscribe button so you don’t miss a thing, and we’ll catch you next week 🚀!