Shopify Takes a Giant Leap with AI?! Introducing Shopify Editions Summer ’25: “Horizons”!
"AI just seems so complicated..." "Maybe AI has nothing to do with my business..."Do you ever feel that way? If so, today might just change your mind!
The global e-commerce platform Shopify is about to make a huge leap forward with cutting-edge AI technology!
Shopify recently announced a major update: " Shopify Editions | Summer ’25 “Horizons” This release introduced an incredible lineup of AI features that help you run your store as if by magic.
https://www.shopify.com/editions/summer2025
In this article, we’ll focus on the AI-related highlights from the many updates.
AI is everywhere these days, but maybe you still find it a bit intimidating?
But once you learn how to use AI, your workflow will become so much smoother! And since this is Shopify’s own AI, it’s even easier to get the information you need.
So, what kind of updates did Shopify’s AI receive in this latest Editions release? Let’s take a closer look!
Like having your own personal designer?! AI automatically creates your store just by using "words"!
"Designing an online store takes skill and know-how—it’s tough..." If you’ve ever felt that way, you can relax! Shopify’s new AI acts like your own personal designer in your head, helping you bring your ideal store to life.
■ The powerful combo of the new "Horizons" design approach and AI!
With this update, Shopify’s design system has evolved into a new concept called "Horizons." When you combine this with AI, the possibilities are truly amazing.
A magic spell? Just tell it what kind of store you want, and it will create design ideas for you. (AI Theme Generation) Tell the AI about your brand’s image (for example: "natural and warm vibes," "futuristic and cool atmosphere"), the products you want to sell, or your target customers. The AI will understand and suggest multiple original design ideas just for you! No more spending days hunting for the perfect design template.
I actually tried generating a theme by entering "modern handmade jewelry" (an example from Shopify’s default settings). Three different themes were created, and you can preview each one.
If you find something you like, you can add it directly to your theme library.
This time, I chose Feather from the three options.
Even when you check inside the customizer, you can see that sections and other settings are perfectly configured. Up to this point, it only took a few clicks after entering your desired theme… Amazing.
Want a specific part? Leave it to AI! (AI Theme Block Generation) "I want to highlight customer reviews on the homepage," or "I want to add an announcement for a limited-time sale!" In times like these, AI is a huge help. Just describe the part or section you want, and AI will quickly create a pre-designed block for you. Then, simply drag and drop it wherever you like. It's as intuitive as playing with LEGO blocks, making it easy to build your store's pages.
I also tried out the AI block addition feature.
Please note that this feature is only available on the latest themes newly released on Shopify, such as "Horizon." (It couldn't be used on Feather, which was generated by AI above.)
When I tried it on Horizon, I was able to add a new section called "Custom section," which wasn't available before.
When you add a Custom section, an AI block called "Generate" appears when adding a block!
It looks like you can tell it what kind of block you'd like to create here.
This time, I'll try using the sample prompt: "A heading with an animated glowing effect."
Then, AI immediately started writing out the code for me!
The block was completed in just a few seconds. It looks like you can also add follow-up instructions, so you might be able to give even more detailed directions.
My impression is that this feature will keep getting better and better from here on out.
As of now (May 29, 2025), it seems this feature only works when the admin panel language is set to English, so please be aware of that.
Looking forward to future updates!
The ultra-smart AI assistant "Sidekick" will become your right-hand partner!
Shopify has a powerful feature called "Sidekick" where AI supports your store operations. With this update, it's become even smarter and more powerful! It's like having an incredibly talented assistant dedicated to your business, working for you 24/7, 365 days a year.
■ Amazing new features of the evolved "Sidekick"!
Boost your sales with spot-on advice?! AI becomes your personal business consultant. If you ask Sidekick to "analyze" your store's sales data or access trends, AI instantly understands the situation. It can suggest concrete strategies and improvements, like "This product has been getting a lot of views lately! Why not make it stand out more?" or "You’re seeing more customers like this, so running this type of campaign might be effective." No more stressing out alone!
Want a specific image? AI brings it to life! Sidekick Image GenerationIf you want to create a fresh, eye-catching banner image for a new summer product, just tell Sidekick your keywords or ideas. The AI will generate several original images and suggest them for you. Even if you can't use image editing software, you can quickly get professional-looking, attractive images.
I immediately asked Sidekick to generate an image.
The instructions I gave were pretty rough, but in just a few seconds, a convincing image was ready! From here, you can upload the image directly to your Shopify folder and use it in your theme as is.
If you give more detailed instructions, you’ll probably get exactly the image you want.
AI is with you anytime, anywhere! Sidekick is now available as a mobile app. Whether you’re on the go or out and about, you can easily consult with AI or give it instructions whenever something comes to mind.
→ What happens when you have Sidekick? Tasks and worries you used to handle alone can now be dramatically streamlined with AI support! Leave the tedious work to AI, so you can focus on more creative tasks and spending time with your customers. It’s truly a “right-hand” tool that accelerates your business!
【Summary】With Shopify’s AI, the possibilities for your business are limitless!
How was that? In this article, we highlighted some of the new AI features announced in Shopify’s latest update, “Summer ’25 ‘Horizons’."
"AI seems complicated, and I don’t think I can really use it myself…"
That’s not true. In fact, the best thing about AI is that it can help you precisely when you don’t understand something.
Shopify’s AI is, an “everyday tool” designed to make your business easier, more efficient, and more enjoyable to grow. It’s evolving into just that.
Still, if you feel the barriers to managing Shopify are high, or if you’re having trouble securing resources within your company, please Contact GO RIDE.
We can help with everything from migrating from other e-commerce platforms, new store builds, to supporting your existing store!
Popular articles
