AI agents will soon complete purchases directly inside ChatGPT, Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot—without customers ever leaving the conversation. Google and Shopify just announced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), backed by Walmart, Target, Mastercard, and 20+ major retailers. But here's what most merchants miss: UCP handles transactions, not discovery. If AI agents can't find your store, they can't sell your products. That's where Answer Engine Optimization comes in.