Retailers like Walmart, Ulta Beauty, Wayfair and Kate Spade are adapting to the growing influence of AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, which are increasingly directing online shopping traffic. While these platforms boost conversion rates and sales, retailers are keen to keep transactions on their own websites to maintain control over customer data, crucial for driving future sales and loyalty. "When a shopper completes a purchase on a ​brand's own site ... the retailer maintains a direct relationship with ‌that customer," said Vince Koh, global head of digital commerce at Amazon Web Services, which is urging retail clients to utilize AI platforms to market products while guaranteeing their own websites remain the top place to make purchases.

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Shopping app Whatnot continues to ride the wave of live commerce growth, reporting that its gross merchandise volume has already surpassed last year's $8 billion mark and new investments reached $545 million in the last funding round. "This investment allows us to build better tools, bring AI to more parts of the selling experience ... and continue building the world's biggest and most trusted marketplace," CEO Grant LaFontaine said. The startup, valued at $20 billion, now claims over 650,000 new users joining each week and says its buyer base has more than doubled in the past year.

Albertsons Cos. has introduced a Safeway plugin for ChatGPT that enables customers to use natural language to discover products, reorder items and build carts. "By enabling our plugin in ChatGPT, we are making grocery shopping as simple as having a conversation by meeting our customers when and how they choose to shop," says Jill Pavlovich, senior vice president of digital customer experience at Albertsons.

Kellanova has partnered with Siemens to create a real-time digital twin of Pringles dough, using AI to ensure consistency and quality in chip production. The project, which has seen a more than $4 million investment, has improved production quality and reduced waste at a Polish factory. The digital twin project will expand to Belgium and the US.

UK supermarket Morrisons is set to implement AI-powered self-checkouts in up to 200 stores through a partnership with retail technology company Everseen. The Evercheck platform uses real-time computer vision to detect scanning errors, prompting customers to resolve issues independently. This initiative aims to streamline checkout processes, reduce staff intervention and enhance customer service.

Cuisinart has been testing Amazon's AI-powered Video Creative Agent, aiming to enhance its advertising efforts on the platform. The company has found that while AI-generated content has improved significantly, there are still minor issues such as color accuracy and text depiction. A recent test showed that an AI-generated video outperformed an in-house video in a one-month campaign.

Wiliot's physical AI platform, featuring Pixel sensors, addresses the challenges of heat damage in supply chains by providing real-time data on product conditions. These small, battery-free sensors track temperature-sensitive items, including non-perishables like leather and cosmetics, ensuring quality during transit. With climate issues intensifying heat waves, Wiliot's technology offers precise monitoring, helping companies like Walmart maintain product integrity and reduce blame-shifting in logistics.

Shopify President Harley Finkelstein says AI is ushering in a "golden age of entrepreneurship" by making it easier to start and grow businesses. Finkelstein notes that AI-driven traffic to Shopify stores has tripled in the past year, particularly