the Partnership Is About
- The group behind brands such as Debenhams, PrettyLittleThing, boohoo, boohooMAN and Karen Millen has teamed up with PayPal to launch a new AI-driven shopping experience within the PayPal app. (Retail Technology Innovation Hub)
- This initiative makes Debenhams Group the first major UK retailer to let customers search for products, get personalised recommendations and complete the entire checkout without ever leaving the PayPal interface. (Retail Technology Innovation Hub)
- The tech is being tested with select users in the United States first, with a broader rollout planned for the UK later in 2026. (Retail Technology Innovation Hub)
How the AI Shopping Works
AI Assistant & Conversational Commerce
- Shoppers can interact with an AI assistant inside the PayPal app using natural language — meaning they can type or speak requests like “show me black dresses under £50” or “find a gift for my sister.” (AI News)
- The assistant automatically personalises recommendations based on user preferences and profile data, and then suggests items from across the Debenhams Group brand portfolio, including fashion and lifestyle products. (AI News)
Seamless Checkout Experience
- Once a shopper selects what they want, they complete the transaction inside the PayPal chat experience, using stored payment and delivery details — no redirection to web pages or separate apps required. (Retail Technology Innovation Hub)
- This reduces standard friction that leads to “abandoned carts” on mobile e-commerce sites, by keeping discovery and checkout all in one place. (AI News)
Comments from Leaders
Dan Finley – Group CEO, Debenhams Group
Finley emphasised the strategic purpose of the launch:
“Our goal is to help customers discover and be inspired by new products and brands, while making shopping as easy and enjoyable as possible.”
“This kind of innovation has the potential to fundamentally transform online retail — in a way we haven’t seen since the shift to mobile shopping.” (Retail Technology Innovation Hub)
His remarks underline how Debenhams is positioning itself at the forefront of digital retail innovation with emerging AI tech.
Mike Edmonds – VP of Agentic Commerce, PayPal
Edmonds highlighted how the partnership elevates the shopping journey:
“With agentic commerce, shopping becomes a conversation, not a search.”
“By embedding AI-powered discovery and checkout directly into the PayPal app, we’re helping customers move seamlessly from inspiration to purchase.” (Retail Technology Innovation Hub)
This reflects broader industry thinking: AI can make e-commerce more intuitive and personalised, reducing reliance on traditional search and browsing flows.
Why It Matters
Agentic Commerce
- The experience is part of a trend called “agentic AI commerce,” where AI acts as a proactive assistant — suggesting items, asking follow-ups and guiding users to purchase — rather than requiring them to navigate standard menus or search bars. (AI News)
Mobile & Friction Reduction
- One of the biggest problems for online retailers — mobile cart abandonment — is largely due to cumbersome checkouts. By keeping customers inside one app for discovery and purchase, Debenhams and PayPal aim to boost conversion rates. (AI News)
Innovating Customer Engagement
- This shift could change how major brands engage shoppers — moving the experience from search and click to conversation and transaction — something PayPal and Debenhams are hoping will drive loyalty and sales. (LinkedIn)
Summary — What’s New
First UK retailer to launch full AI-powered discovery + checkout within PayPal. (Retail Technology Innovation Hub)
Conversational shopping replaces traditional browsing/search. (AI News)
Pilot now in US, with broader UK launch planned later in 2026. (FashionNetwork)
Industry leaders describe this as transformative for digital retail. (Retail Technology Innovation Hub)
Here’s a detailed look at the partnership between Debenhams Group and PayPal to launch AI-powered shopping in the UK — with real-world examples, executive comments and context about how it’s being rolled out and why it matters: (Retail Gazette)
1. What the AI-Powered Shopping Experience Is
Debenhams Group has teamed up with PayPal to pilot a new AI-driven shopping experience where customers can discover products, get personalised recommendations and complete purchases entirely within the PayPal app — without needing to go to a separate website or retailer app. (Retail Gazette)
Agentic AI Interface
- Instead of a traditional search bar, shoppers interact with an AI assistant via natural language, asking things like “show me black coats under £100”. (FinTech Magazine)
- The system then uses a combination of shopper profiles, preferences and follow-up questions to narrow down options and suggest products from Debenhams Group brands such as boohoo, Karen Millen and PrettyLittleThing. (Retail Gazette)
- Customers can checkout directly in the chat interface using PayPal’s stored payment and delivery details, meaning there’s no redirect to a separate website — a major source of cart abandonment in mobile shopping. (Resultsense)
The feature is currently being tested in the United States with a wider rollout in both the US and UK planned later in 2026. (Retail Gazette)
2. Case Studies & Pilots in Action
Example: Conversational Discovery
A shopper using PayPal can open a chat and type a natural request like:
“Find me a birthday gift under £50 that’s trendy.”
The agentic AI then:
- Adjusts results based on the shopper’s profile and past behaviour.
- Asks follow-up questions if needed (e.g. “Would you like accessories or clothing?”).
- Offers personalised suggestions from across Debenhams Group brands.
- Offers a one-tap checkout directly within the app once selection is made. (Resultsense)
This kind of end-to-end shopping without leaving PayPal is a real-world example of how agentic commerce can reduce friction and increase conversions. (FinTech Magazine)
Example: Integrated Inventory & Personalisation
Debenhams Group has also aligned its internal AI infrastructure (such as inventory forecasting, pricing and stock visibility) to support these agentic experiences. This level of real-time data helps prevent situations where a shopper is offered an item that’s out of stock — a common failure point for AI shopping pilots. (AI News)
3. What Leaders Are Saying
Dan Finley — Group CEO, Debenhams Group
Finley emphasised the strategic importance of this partnership:
“At Debenhams Group, our goal is to help customers discover and be inspired by new products and brands, while making shopping as easy and enjoyable as possible.”
“This kind of innovation has the potential to fundamentally transform online retail; in a way we haven’t seen since the shift to mobile shopping.” (Retail Gazette)
His remarks show that Debenhams sees AI not just as a novelty but as a path to deeper engagement and higher conversions across its portfolio of fashion and lifestyle brands. (Retail Gazette)
Mike Edmonds — VP of Agentic Commerce, PayPal
Edmonds framed the tech shift as a change in how people shop online:
“With agentic commerce, shopping becomes a conversation, not a search.”
“By embedding AI-powered discovery and checkout directly into the PayPal app, we’re helping customers move seamlessly from inspiration to purchase.” (FinTech Magazine)
This comment highlights a broader industry trend toward conversational AI assistants that can act on shoppers’ behalf — similar to how a personal stylist or sales associate might help in a physical store. (FinTech Magazine)
4. Why This Matters for Retail
Reduced Friction & Abandoned Carts
One of the biggest challenges in online shopping is that customers often leave before checking out because they’re redirected between apps, asked to log in again, or put off by long forms. Keeping the entire journey inside PayPal’s interface helps reduce this friction significantly. (Resultsense)
Personalisation at Scale
By using shopper profiles and follow-up questions, agentic AI can tailor suggestions more precisely than traditional filters or category menus — which can increase basket sizes and satisfaction. (FinTech Magazine)
New Retail-Tech Partnerships
This partnership also signals a shift where payment platforms become full commerce environments, not just places to send money — potentially redefining the role of apps like PayPal in the shopping ecosystem. (FinTech Magazine)
Summary — The Takeaways
- Debenhams Group has partnered with PayPal to pilot agentic AI-powered shopping, allowing discovery and checkout inside the PayPal app without redirects. (Retail Gazette)
- It uses natural language conversation and shopper profile insights to tailor recommendations and guide purchases more intuitively than traditional search interfaces. (FinTech Magazine)
- Early comments from leadership highlight the transformational potential of AI for online retail — comparing its impact to the shift toward mobile shopping. (Retail Gazette)
- Broader rollout in the UK is planned for later in 2026, building on US testing and integrated with Debenhams’ wider AI infrastructure for stock, pricing and post-purchase experience. (AI News)