Tonada, a Swedish startup founded by former Spotify and Wolt executives, has emerged from stealth with financial backing from key technology and music industry figures. The company offers an AI-driven generative music platform designed to provide tailored background music to retail and hospitality spaces.
Starbucks has ended its AI-assisted inventory management program after nine months due to persistent accuracy issues. Employees will return to manual inventory tracking after the automated system failed to reliably count in-store products. The move highlights the challenges of implementing AI solutions in real-world retail operations.
Amazon has launched an AI-powered conversational shopping assistant that provides audio responses to product inquiries. The feature, currently available in the U.S. for select items, leverages generative AI to deliver real-time, personalised information based on product details and customer feedback.
Google has introduced an update to its AI Mode, enabling users to find products currently in stock at nearby stores. The feature leverages advanced artificial intelligence to streamline local shopping and inventory discovery. This enhancement reflects the growing use of AI in everyday search and retail experiences.
Retailers in the United States experienced a significant 393% increase in AI-driven web traffic during the first quarter of the year. This surge is reported to have positively impacted retail revenue, highlighting artificial intelligence's growing influence on digital commerce strategies.
Replenit, an AI-powered decision engine for retailers, has raised $2.5 million in a pre-seed round co-led by Movens Capital and Vastpoint. The Warsaw-headquartered company's technology leverages real-time customer data to drive personalised retail actions, aiming to improve retention and increase revenue for enterprise clients. The funds will support further product development, research, and international expansion.
Trustpilot is forming partnerships with AI-focused eCommerce companies as AI-facilitated shopping and non-traditional search platforms reshape consumer behavior. The company reports rising exposure of its review data through large language models and anticipates improved margins linked in part to its data’s integration into AI systems.
Retailers are turning to artificial intelligence to unlock insights from unstructured customer reviews. By analyzing this 'dark data', enterprises can make informed decisions that drive revenue and improve customer satisfaction.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the retail landscape across the Asia-Pacific region, moving from experimental stages to central roles in daily operations. Advances in computer vision, autonomous shopping, and agentic AI systems are driving greater efficiency and personalised experiences, while also presenting new challenges in localisation and data privacy.
AI is changing the fundamentals of online commerce by automating decision-making and creating a zero-click market, where machines—not humans—select products and services. Reliability and data integrity are now critical for retailers vying for AI-driven selection, rendering traditional marketing and UX tactics less influential. This shift is poised to reshape the global retail landscape as businesses adapt to the requirements of agentic commerce.
Stay informed with curated insights delivered weekly to your inbox.