AI tools like ChatGPT are changing how people shop, and ads on a retailers’ sites can matter less when shoppers bounce between platforms. That, in turn, changes the way retail executives view retail media.

Sherry Smith, president for retail media at adtech network Criteo, told Retail Brew we’re in a transition phase for retail media. AI should not be seen as an external threat, she said, but testing and learning with different types of ad formats that can support conversational commerce is important.

One tool for this is Page Intelligence, which uses AI to optimize product pages so retailers and brands can see ad impressions and sales together, not separately, Smith said. Last year, Criteo started testing Page Intelligence and has recently started tests with retailers, according to the company.

Smith spoke with Retail Brew about the state of retail media, growing scrutiny around ad measurement, and the company’s relationship with AI platforms.

Keep reading here.—VC

If consumers pay a pittance for “Gucci” bags displayed on a blanket on a Manhattan sidewalk, chances are they know they’re getting fakes—but not so when they’re paying dearly for that bag on an online marketplace.

Entrupy, an AI authentication solution for businesses, helps save sellers from the headache of inadvertently passing off counterfeit items. The company just released its annual report that analyzes the mind-boggling number of product requests it processed in the previous year, which in 2025 amounted to goods valued at $3.7 billion.

At a category level, in 2025 apparel proved to be the riskiest Entrupy has tracked since publishing its first report in 2019, with more than 1 in 3 items (34.85%) unable to be authenticated (and potentially fake).

Keep reading here.—AAN

On Wednesdays, we wear pink spotlight Retail Brew’s readers. Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? Click here to introduce yourself.

Tammy Callahan is senior retail business development manager at The Look Company, which has created retail designs and displays for clients like Walmart, Under Armour, and Esteé Lauder.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? When you’re walking past a store and something makes you stop—whether that be a giant window display, signage, or overhead lights that cast a warm glow on the products—that’s the kind of experience I help create. I work with major global retailers to design spaces that make the in-person shopping experience feel personalized, energizing, and unique from the very first moment a shopper sees the store. From the visuals that draw you in to the details that shape how the space feels once you’re inside, my role is all about helping retail teams turn physical environments into memorable brand experiences.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? Many retailers come to us for signage and think that all they have to do is pick a giant display, put a model on it, and add bold text. But there’s a lot more strategy behind every sign, display and visual moment than people realize. A big part of my job is helping brands first understand the bigger picture—how these visual elements shape the way customers feel and move through a space. Once that foundation is in place, then we can have a much more meaningful conversation about how signage supports everything from storytelling and wayfinding to sales goals and seasonal shifts.

Keep reading here.—EC

Molly Schonthal, managing director of commerce transformation and innovation at VML, helps brands make sense of modern retail—across every channel. Join in NYC (or virtually) to hear how retailers are connecting in-store and digital experiences, building smarter tech stacks, and turning fragmented customer journeys into something that actually converts. Grab your ticket now.

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