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Ethan Mollick (@emollick.bsky.social): 🚨Our new research examines agentic shopping: can you consistently predict (or, using marketing, influence) what an agent chooses? Nope. We found that even small differences (viewing order of…

L4 · DeveloperResearch@emollick.bsky.social· 8/27/2026

Reveals fundamental unpredictability in AI agent behavior, critical for developers building reliable agentic systems and studying decision-making patterns.

AI Summary

New research finds AI shopping agents make inconsistent, unpredictable purchase decisions influenced by minor factors like viewing order and memory, challenging efforts to predict or influence their choices.

Excerpt

🚨Our new research examines agentic shopping: can you consistently predict (or, using marketing, influence) what an agent chooses? Nope. We found that even small differences (viewing order of pages, memories) changed AI preferences in unpredictable ways. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

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