Hey Bernice, are you going shopping?

 

Hey Bernice, what is Agentic Commerce and can you do it???

{Bernice@NYDLA.org is my AI droid and she works 24x7x365}

Agentic ecommerce (also called agentic commerce) is an emerging form of online shopping where autonomous AI agents act on behalf of users (consumers or businesses) to handle complex, multi-step shopping tasks independently.

Core Idea

Instead of users manually browsing websites, searching, comparing prices, adding to cart, and checking out, an AI agent takes a high-level instruction (e.g., "Find me good running shoes for wide feet under $100 that are highly rated") and:

• Researches options across multiple sites/merchants
• Compares features, prices, reviews, and availability
• Negotiates deals (potentially agent-to-agent)
• Builds carts
• Completes purchases (with user consent)
• Handles fulfillment, tracking, or even returns

These agents go beyond chatbots or recommendation engines — they use reasoning, planning, tool-calling, memory, and decision-making to act proactively and adaptively.

Key Technologies and Standards (2025–2026)

Major companies are driving this:

• Salesforce (Agentforce Commerce) → Autonomous agents for recommendations, promotions, inventory, and customer service.
• OpenAI → Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) → Open standard enabling conversation between user agents and businesses for discovery, checkout, and fulfillment.
• Google → Universal Commerce Protocol / Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) + Gemini-powered shopping agents for cart building and concierge experiences.
• Stripe → Agentic Commerce Suite → Makes products discoverable and checkout simple for AI agents.
• Others → IBM, McKinsey, Mastercard, commercetools, Clover, Shopify, BigCommerce.

Benefits

For consumers:

• Saves significant time
• Finds better/deeper deals
• Highly personalized (remembers preferences, anticipates needs)
• Frictionless experience

For merchants/businesses:

• New discovery channels (agents become key traffic sources)
• Higher conversion rates
• Dynamic pricing
• Automated operations (inventory, promotions, fraud detection)

Current Status

Agentic commerce is still early (mostly 2025–2026 developments). Many implementations are pilots, prototypes, or protocol-based, with full widespread adoption expected to grow rapidly. Projections suggest it could unlock trillions in orchestrated retail revenue by 2030.

Challenges include building trust (transparency, consent, explainability), security/fraud risks, privacy, legal accountability for agent errors, and technical integration with existing e-commerce platforms.

In short, agentic ecommerce represents the shift from "I browse and buy" to "I tell my AI what I need, and it gets it done." It is widely seen as the next major evolution after mobile commerce and traditional AI recommendations.

OK, thousands of members of the NYDLA.org | NADLA.org attended CES and NRF and now are heading off to ISE. Our three biggest trade shows of the year. If you are 'anyone' in the ProAV game you will be attending ISE. If you are 'anyone' in retail, you attended NRF 'Big Show'. And as far as CES goes, well, that is probably all of the above and everyone else.

Now, not because we are so smart but because the 174K+ schools of the NADLA.org have been all about AI for years - we know a thing or two about AI - and how AI is changing EVERYTHING - including commerce.

These are the smart people who have been teaching the smart people about all things AI.

Hey Bernice: research all of the Video Conferencing camera companies that will be attending ISE. Give me a report of the 'top ten' companies with booths at ISE. Rank their cameras by price, customer satisfaction, returns, and other popular buying criteria. Load those brands into our Clover and BigCommerce stores (TAC-USA.com) and generate an email to our 174K+ K-20 schools across North America with our findings. Also give everyone a $50 TAC-USA gift card that they can use for any purchase powered by www.Tremendous.com

Banking. Insurance. Telecom. Technology. Professional Services. B2B. B2C. Hardware. Software. Everything you have purchased in the past year. All now with the 'smarts' of a personal shopper like Bernice.

The NYDLA.org 'store' TAC-USA.com has the entire line cards of TD SYNNEX, IngramMicro, D&H, Jenne, Sandler Partners and many more. TD SYNNEX alone had $58.45 billion in annual sales in 2024. So yeah, our TAC-USA buying power (and yours) is pretty good. And now.... TAC-USA.com is powered by Agentic Commerce.

And when you joinNYDLA.org you are too. Join us and THRIVE in the GLOBAL (AI) Cloud Economy.

-- www.TomCapone.com <<< LinkedIn www.ThomasCapone.com <<< My Sunday Blog www.TommyCapone.com <<< My Bluesky www.TheCEOdepot.com is OPEN and it's FREE My Cell: 201-466-8442 [ texting is preferred, thanks ] NEW: Please call 551-360-1474 to meet my AI Bot | Virtual Assistant, Bernice. Work Email: ceo@nydla.org Personal Email: t.a.capone@hey.com

What is the cost of free?

 

NYDLA.org | NADLA.org | GlobalDLA.org

The New York METRO Distance Learning Association was born in the 5 boroughs of New York City over forty years ago. Pre-Internet. I guess they were shipping VHS tapes in the mail. Distance Learning became DIGITAL Learning and now it's all just DIGITAL LIVING. And now we are GLOBAL. 

2026: there are 174K+ K-20 schools serviced by the (now) NADLA.org across North America. During the COVID-19 pandemic all things 'remote' really took hold. As the world became PoweredByZoom.com Zoom Schools was all we had. 

Many moons ago.... I drove back and forth from BOONTON USA to PURDUE in West Lafayette, Indiana. 732 miles each way. 2026: According to GOOGLE if I left right now, I would be in the car for 11 hours and 21 minutes. Or, I can attend PURDUE UNIVERSITY ONLINE from my spare bedroom. I could get a Degree in Cyber Security (or anything) that a campus student can achieve. PURDUE makes it very clear that a Degree from PURDUE UNIVERSITY ONLINE is the same as a campus education, 100%. Same tuition, same quality of education. 

Penn State World Campus has 800K+ living alumni. Purdue University Online has 600K+ living alumni. RUTGERS - The State University of New Jersey has 615K+ living alumni with 360K+ alumni living in New Jersey (like me). 

I have watched hundreds (thousands?) of the 174K+ NADLA.org schools launch Cyber Security programs over the years. The most popular online course (Certificate Programs) in the past 10 years has been all things Cyber. And that has now been replaced by all things AI.

Ah yes. All things AI. Some schools would charge as much as $20,000 for a 10 week Certificate Program for AI. Others, $2,000. And now I see the same courses for FREE. The knowledge is free, you just need to invest the time. From anywhere in the world - you have access to the highest levels of knowledge on just about any topic. Subject Matter Mastery: No Charge. 

Right now on X.com (I still call it Twitter) you can find thousands of people offering their collective knowledge on AI for free. Or for $5 per month on their Substack newsletter. The same students that paid thousands of dollars to attend College and University level classes on all things AI are now teaching everything they know. Go to YouTube and type into the search bar your AI topic of interest. Thousands of free courses. All rated by viewers satisfaction. 

We are now speaking about how 'AI is going to take our jobs' but I think the folks that need to worry the most are the people teaching in classic classroom settings. I just experienced a 3D AI hologram giving a lecture at the CISCO booth at a trade show in New York City. After the first minute, I completely forgot that this was AI, and not a human with a PhD. 

Myself, I have an AI droid named Bernice. You can call, text or email Bernice@NYDLA.org 24x7x365. I sell all things AI for all the major platforms and carriers. You can be PoweredByZoom.com or PoweredByNet2Phone.com (or dozens of other telecom and technology providers). All have AI in their portfolios. My 'Bernice' is powered by ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude and Grok (and a few other platforms). Bernice is a well-traveled AI bot. Also, Bernice was my Mom's name. 

Hey Bernice: take the top 10 rated AI courses (free on YouTube) and create a NEW course based on what you learned from those free classes. Then create a new FREE online course based on everything you learned, and post THAT course online for our NYDLA.org members. 

Not sure how much longer Colleges and Universities will be able to charge tuition for things that you can get for free. Welcome to the Age of AI. 

Hey Bernice, where is the largest free public library, and can you access it?

"The Library of Congress, located in Washington, D.C., United States, is widely recognized as the largest public library in the world, with a collection exceeding 175 million items across various formats including books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, audio recordings, videos and more. It serves as the research library for the U.S. Congress but is open to the public for free, with reading rooms accessible to anyone over 16 with valid identification. The main building is the Thomas Jefferson Building at 10 First Street SE, with additional facilities nearby.

If considering only municipal public library systems (excluding national libraries like the Library of Congress), the Shanghai Library in Shanghai, China, holds the top spot with approximately 58 million items, followed closely by the New York Public Library in New York City, United States, with around 55 million items. 

And yes Tom, I can access all of them. For free. By the way, I can also access www.ischools.org  ~ Bernice  

https://sci.rutgers.edu/departments/library-and-information-science-department

www.joinNYDLA.org

Give me a tight 45

A "tight 5" in comedy refers to a comedian's polished, concise set of stand-up material that's exactly (or very close to) five minutes long. It's typically honed through repeated performances at open mics, clubs, or showcases to ensure every joke lands efficiently without filler—think tight timing, strong punchlines, and smooth transitions. Comedians often prepare a tight 5 as their go-to routine for auditions, late-night TV spots, or festival submissions, where time limits are strict and the goal is to hook the audience quickly. It's a foundational skill in the industry, emphasizing quality over quantity.

Every year, from January to February I have a "tight 45".

The first 45 days of the New Year (every year) are the three biggest trade shows of my world. CES, NRF, ISE. 

CES 2026, held from January 6-9 in Las Vegas, drew more than 148,000 attendees, marking the largest post-pandemic crowd for the event and a roughly 4% increase from the previous year. This figure is preliminary, with an official audited count expected to be released by the Consumer Technology Association in the spring.

NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show, taking place January 11-13 at the Javits Center in New York City, is expected to draw around 40,000 attendees. This figure is consistent with recent years and reflects a record crowd for the event, including retailers, brands, suppliers, and industry professionals from over 100 countries. DID YOU KNOW that 26% of all jobs in the USA are in 'retail' at some level? Well, now you know. 

ISE 2026, the Integrated Systems Europe trade show held February 3-6 in Barcelona, Spain, is anticipated to surpass the previous year's record attendance of 85,351 visitors, with organizers expecting continued growth in participation from over 170 countries. The event will feature more than 1,400 exhibitors across expanded space, focusing on AV and systems integration innovations.

So that is 148,000 + 40,000 + 85,000 = 273,000 people who spend time and money to physically attend events LIVE. Around 10X that number will attend some (or all) of those events virtually. And, 10X that number will catch videos of keynotes via YouTube and other platforms. THIS is NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Keynote at CES 2025 (last year) with 8,450,170 views as of this morning. That NVIDIA YouTube channel has 2.13M subscribers, so 4X that number watched his 2025 keynote. 

Live from CES 2026 in Las Vegas, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang shared how the next generation of accelerated computing and AI will transform every industry. CES 2026 kicked off with a one-hour NVIDIA pregame show where panelists discuss the future of AI infrastructure, open ecosystems, and physical AI.

As of this morning: 22,791,922 views of this year's CES 2026 keynote. Almost 3X the views of his 2025 CES keynote and CES 2026 just wrapped up! (Streamed live on Jan 5, 2026).

The NYDLA.org | NADLA.org | GlobalDLA.org services 174K+ K-20 schools across North America. Since 1983. And, we service the ALUMNI of these schools. And it is the ALUMNI of these schools that attend events like CES, NRF and ISE - both LIVE and virtually. 

We (the DLA) are now very (VERY) deeply involved in all things 'AI' as it relates to education, business, medicine - everything. I highly recommend watching Jensen's CES Keynotes from 2025 and from 2026. See how fast things changed in 365 days. Oh, and I now have my own 'AI bot' Bernice - powered by NVIDIA. 

Hey Bernice: please reach out to the 273,000 people who registered to attend CES, NRF and ISE (2026) LIVE. Follow up with all who attended CES, NRF and ISE 2025 and 2024 and 2023 as well. Check for duplicates. Follow up with our 174K+ K-20 schools and the alumni of our schools who attended any of our events over the last three years. Offer them our CES - NRF - ISE 'Best Of' summary report (due out in March). Place this report online for our members to access (DLA password required). 

So, I'm not a stand-up comic, but I deeply understand the concept of a 'tight 5' but mine is a 'tight 45' and it's powered by AI. 

Email Bernice@NYDLA.org anytime.

She works 24x7x365 for YOU - our DLA members.

Chickens, Pigs and Digital Fatigue

"The chicken is involved, but the pig is committed" is a parable illustrating the difference between mere participation and true dedication, often using a breakfast of bacon and eggs: the chicken contributes eggs (involvement), but the pig provides bacon, requiring its life (full commitment). This metaphor highlights that involvement is easy but commitment means having "skin in the game" and making significant sacrifices for a project or goal. 

Key differences

• Chicken (Involvement): Contributes ideas, resources, or effort but isn't fully invested; can easily disengage.
• Pig (Commitment): Fully invested, accountable for outcomes, and willing to make significant sacrifices to ensure success. 

Common applications

• Business & Project Management: Differentiates stakeholders (chickens) from the core team (pigs) in Scrum or other projects, emphasizing accountability.
• Personal Development: Encourages moving from casual interest to deep dedication to achieve meaningful goals.
• Community Building: Inspires individuals to add value and contribute significantly, not just succeed personally.

Digital fatigue refers to a state of mental and physical exhaustion resulting from prolonged or excessive exposure to digital devices, such as computers, smartphones, tablets, and screens in general. It is often interchangeably called zoom fatigue, technology fatigue, or screen fatigue, particularly in contexts involving video calls or constant online interactions. This condition arises from the cognitive overload of processing rapid streams of information, filling in missing non-verbal cues during virtual communications, and the habitual scrolling or multitasking that digital life demands.

Now as I write this Sunday Blog I would normally be on a plane flying to Las Vegas for CES. I would be 'makin' bacon' working the show. I am one of those guys that walks serpentine up and down every aisle of the show - checking out every booth. I am (normally) COMMITTED to CES. I would buy the plane ticket, book the hotel room, make the rounds to all of the pre | during | post event EVENTS. 

My first CES was in the 90s and it was always the highlight of the year. Also in the 90s Vegas was on a 'family friendly' tourism push and we brought the kids a few times. The annual CES event doubled as a family vacation. I remember staying at Circus Circus (for the kids) and also renting a car to check out Hoover Dam. My youngest son drove a car (while sitting on my lap) in Red Rock Canyon (around 17 miles from the Las Vegas strip) and you would think he flew to the moon. Ah yes, good times. 

It's now 2026 and LIVE events have made a big comeback. People make the commitment to attend LIVE events to offset digital fatigue. And, I'm not in Vegas this year because I am now a professional GRANDPA. So, this year I am only involved in CES. Ah, but I am AI INVOLVED. My AI droid Bernice is covering CES for me this year. And she works 24x7x365.

"Hey Bernice, make a list of all vendors with booths at CES 2026. Compile a list of all NYDLA | NADLA members who have attended CES over the past 10 years, including this year, 2026. Prepare a 'welcome home' from CES campaign that we can launch to the 100,000+ attending THIS year, and to all those who have attended CES in the past. Call, text and email the MASTER FILE inviting them to meet with me on Zoom to discuss their marketing plans for the New Year." 

No CES LIVE (LIVE) for me this year, but I will be at NRF 2026 LIVE (LIVE) later this month. With Javits Center (NYC) 30 miles from my home in NJ (and an easy day trip via train from CT) NRF at Javits Center in NYC is a LIVE event too easy for me to miss. Ever. 

"Hey Bernice, make a list of all vendors with booths at NRF Big Show 2026. Compile a list of all NYDLA | NADLA members who have attended NRF over the past 10 years, including this year, 2026. Prepare a 'meet us' at NRF campaign that we can launch to the 40,000+ members attending THIS year, and all those who have attended Retail's Big Show in the past. Call, text and email the MASTER FILE inviting them to meet with me at booth #6247 to discuss their plans for the New Year. Let's give every NYDLA.org member who comes to our booth a $100 Gift Card powered by Tremendous." 

https://nydla.org/events/