Can AI really transform shopping without taking the joy out of it? 

Michael Komasinski, CEO of Criteo, answers exactly this question in the latest DMEXCO Podcast with Verena Gründel. Recorded during the Cannes Lions Festival, the conversation explores how AI is redefining commerce, advertising and customer experiences—and why the future will be driven by relevance rather than automation. 

As CEO of Criteo, Michael Komasinski leads one of the world's leading commerce media companies. His focus is on preparing advertisers and retailers for an AI-driven future where commerce, search and discovery increasingly converge. 

Four Key Facts from the Conversation: 

  • Criteo started as a DVD recommendation engine more than 20 years.  

  • Around 80% of the traffic generated by paid advertising on ChatGPT currently represents new-to-brand customers.  

  • Michael expects traditional keyword-based shopping experiences to largely disappear within the next two to three years.  

  • Clean product data, not algorithms, is becoming one of the most important competitive advantages for retailers. 

While much of the industry is fascinated by autonomous AI agents that could shop entirely on behalf of consumers, Michael Komasinski takes a different view. He believes people will continue to enjoy shopping themselves. AI should support consumers, not replace them. 

Instead of fully autonomous purchasing, he expects AI assistants to help users discover products more efficiently, compare options and surface highly relevant recommendations. Retailers will increasingly offer conversational shopping assistants that combine AI with sponsored recommendations, making product discovery easier while creating new advertising opportunities. 

As Michael explains: 

"People like to shop. Even for mundane products. AI should reduce friction, not remove people from the experience." 

Do you want to see Michael Komasinsy live? Come to DMEXCO in Cologne on September 23 and 24. Get your ticket now and see you there! 

https://dmexco.com/tickets/ 

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