Shopify Adds Sidekick AI Assistant to Checkout and Customer Accounts Editor

What Changed

Shopify has integrated Sidekick, its AI-powered assistant, directly into the checkout and customer accounts editor within the desktop admin interface. Merchants and developers working in this editor can now query Sidekick for guidance without leaving the workspace. The assistant supports three core functions: explaining how to configure checkout and customer account settings, recommending apps based on specific merchant needs, and searching the Shopify Help Center for relevant documentation.

Sidekick has also been extended to the Checkout Blocks app, where it can assist developers in understanding and planning the implementation of blocks and functions used to customize checkout experiences.

Why This Matters for Developers

For Shopify app developers, this integration changes how merchants interact with configuration tasks that previously required consulting documentation or filing support tickets. As Sidekick becomes capable of recommending apps based on contextual needs, discoverability within the admin may increasingly depend on how well an app’s functionality aligns with the specific use cases merchants describe to the assistant.

Developers building checkout extensions or functions should also note that Sidekick’s presence in Checkout Blocks signals Shopify’s intent to lower the technical barrier for merchants configuring custom checkout logic, which may reduce reliance on third-party implementation support.

What to Watch For

Developers should monitor how Sidekick’s app recommendation logic evolves, since it could influence app visibility and installation patterns going forward. It’s also worth testing how accurately Sidekick explains third-party app functionality within checkout contexts, as inconsistencies could affect merchant expectations. This rollout is currently limited to the desktop editor, so mobile admin parity remains unconfirmed.

Read the full announcement →