AI Retail Revolution: Smart Customer Flow Analytics

Other exhibitors touted "smart people counting" and "AI customer flow analysis." We come to this place not for magic, but for "merchandizing execution with AI." Much of this is likely word salad to the average consumer -- but if you shop online, the AI creep has become inescapable. Retail and tech companies have crammed AI into just about every step of the purchasing process, from designing products, to discovery and comparison, to calling brick and mortar stores, to trying on clothing, and finally checking out. At NRF's trade show, Google announced an open-source standard called the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) that allows retailers and AI agents to communicate and integrate, so shoppers can buy products from Target within Google's AI Mode, for example, without going to Target's website. As tech companies build more direct buying features into chatbots, some are hoping coupons and deals can entice purchases: Google also announced that retailers will be able to set up discounts for shoppers browsing in AI Mode.