FuturistU > Retail > Rewriting the Rules of Retail > Module 4 / 4

Consumer Centric Retail Through Artificial Intelligence

Instructor: Ady Floyd
Payment Innovation
Download the Payment Innovation Trend Report
Today's shopper is looking for convenience, ease, and simplicity, meaning that brands need to take advantage of technological tools to help them create smart retail solutions. Smart retail is all about focusing on leveraging big data, AI interactions and platforms like voice and visual search.

Consumers are now much more willing to provide personal data to retailers, as long as it's mutually beneficial. Throughout this module, Ady will look at how brands can use AI and other technologies to improve the shopping experience online and offline.
Related Trend Report: Payment Innovation
Workshop Questions:
1. How might you collect more customer data to create a more compelling product/service offering?
2. What is one way your brand could use smart technology to elevate your customer’s experience?
Get the 2024 Trend Report FREE

Featured Insights

Picture Purchase
Brands are using AI to help consumers shop through pictures
Trend - Using AI and machine learning, consumers can now snap images of products and make instant purchases. Moving beyond voice-activated shopping platforms, brands continue to innovate the retail space with visual shopping applications.
Workshop Question - How can your brand make its retail experience more convenient for consumers?
3.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Supermarket Visual Search Tools
Supermarket Visual Search Tools
Slyce Launched a Mobile List-Building Solution for Shoppers
No matter how organized a brick-and-mortar store is, it can be a challenge to locate items with the same level as ease as offered by online platforms, many of which offer various filters and visual... MORE
Shoppable In-App Searches
Shoppable In-App Searches
Snapchat 'Visual Search' Identifies Real-Life Objects to Buy on Amazon
Snapchat partnered with Amazon to launch a new in-app tool called Snapchat ‘Visual Search,’ which makes it easier for those who use the social media platform to identify and purchase... MORE
Homebuying Photo Search Tools
Homebuying Photo Search Tools
Homes.com Launched a Social Media-Inspired Snap & Search Feature
There are countless board named “Dream Home” on Pinterest where users collect inspirational images of places they might like to live—and the newly revamped Homes.com now offers a... MORE
AI Visual Search Tools
AI Visual Search Tools
Syte's VSN Lets Consumers Browse by Showing Versus Telling
As Syte points out: “as consumers make the collective shift towards visuals- Instagram vs Facebook, videos vs articles, emojis vs texts - somehow we are still navigating the most visual... MORE
Frivolous Recognition
Facial recognition technologies enhance retail and viewing experiences
Trend - As new interpretations of surveillance develop, the potential of facial recognition technology is unpacked with the tech’s adoption in a range of services and experiences across different industries. From retail to art, brands seek to facilitate customizable and enhanced consumer engagement through a new mode of usage.
Workshop Question - How could your brand use facial recognition tech in its retail experience?
4.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Reflection-Based AI Installations
Reflection-Based AI Installations
Ultravioletto Curates a Mirror-Dependent Installation in Spoleto
Italian design studio Ultravioletto organized an interactive AI installation in a former church in the city of Spoleto. The experience is centered around a mirror that utilizes artificial... MORE
play_circle_filledPet-Powered Online Shops
Pet-Powered Online Shops
Pet-Commerce Gives Pets Buying Power with AI & Facial Recognition
Pets in the household already influence many purchasing decisions that their owners make on a regular basis and Brazilian pet shop chain Petz is helping consumers make the most of this with its Pet-... MORE
play_circle_filledUnstaffed Phone Pop-Up Shops
Unstaffed Phone Pop-Up Shops
UNBOXED by Singtel is an All-Hours Pop-Up Store in Singapore
Valuable items like smartphones and their accessories are often kept behind lock and key in tech shops and require staff assistance for them to be accessed—but Singapore’s UNBOXED by Singtel... MORE
play_circle_filledNext-Gen Tech Hotels
Next-Gen Tech Hotels
Alibaba's Flyzoo Future Hotel Offers Biometric Entry & In-Suite Assistants
Alibaba is introducing the 290-room Flyzoo Future Hotel in China to provide an experience that’s more in line with the current digital technologies in place today. This hotel is bound to set a... MORE
play_circle_filledFacial Recognition Bar Orders
Facial Recognition Bar Orders
DataSparQ Has Created an AI Queue for Bars to Organize Drink Orders
The British-based data science company, DataSwarQ, has created an AI queue that can be used to organize drink orders. The AI queue implements facial recognition in order to organize patrons into... MORE

Insights by Trend Hunter AI

Chatbot Evolution
AI brands create chatbots with unique social and collaborative features
Trend - AI brands release chatbots supporting multi‑participant conversations, on‑device or local model options, specialist topic agents, threaded discussions and shared workspaces; features emphasize privacy controls, extensibility via plugins and integrations with collaboration suites to serve teams.
Workshop Question - How can we innovate our AI solutions to enhance privacy, collaboration, and domain-specific interactions for users in social and workplace settings?
6.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Collaborative AI Chat Features
Collaborative AI Chat Features
OpenAI Announced ChatGPT Group Chats for Up to 20 People
OpenAI has announced the new ChatGPT group chats feature to enable users to connect with friends, family and colleagues within the artificial intelligence (AI) platform. The feature will enable... MORE
Interactive AI Stories
Interactive AI Stories
Saylo AI Enables Immersive Storytelling Through Interactive Chat
Saylo AI is an interactive storytelling and roleplay platform that is completely powered by artificial intelligence, effectively allowing users to engage with over 500,000 AI-generated characters.... MORE
Eco AI Chats
Eco AI Chats
Earthly Insight Combines AI Chat with Tree-Planting and Eco Impact
Earthly Insight is an AI-powered chat platform that combines conversational intelligence with environmental impact. Unlike standard AI chat tools, it integrates a socially responsible model by... MORE
Local AI Chats
Local AI Chats
Locl.chat Provides Fast, Private AI Conversations With User-Controlled Data
Locl.chat is a local-first AI chat platform that leverages Groq’s Deepseek distill LLaMa 70B model to deliver fast, responsive conversational experiences. It integrates with Basic’s user-owned... MORE
Instant AI Chats
Instant AI Chats
DeepSeek AI Chat Provides 1-Click Browser Access Without Login
DeepSeek AI Chat is a browser extension that provides instant access to AI-powered chat capabilities without requiring a login. The tool integrates DeepSeek AI’s functionality directly into the... MORE
Safe Socializing
AI brands are creating companionship apps to help youth
Trend - AI companies are rolling out moderated, youth-focused companion apps with conversational agents designed for safe social interaction. Featuring content filters, parental controls, guided icebreakers and social-skills coaching, these platforms foster healthy engagement in a controlled environment.
Workshop Question - How can your brand leverage AI to create safe, moderated environments that foster healthy social interaction and build confidence among youth in a digital age?
6.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
play_circle_filledPlayful Ai Companions
Playful Ai Companions
AI Bunny Turns Screen Time into Active Learning and Calm Engagement
The AI Bunny is a talking device designed as an educational companion that listens, speaks, and teaches through voice-driven interaction. Housed in a charming 3D-printed bunny face enclosure,... MORE
Playful AI Companions
Playful AI Companions
Snorble Supports Social-Emotional Development & Educational Advancement
Interactive toys are advancing with AI technology to enhance both entertainment and education, and Snorble is one such example that provides kids with engaging, personalized and play-based learning... MORE
AI Companion Platforms
AI Companion Platforms
Sagen AI is a Personalized Real-Time AI Companion With Custom Characters
Sagen AI is a platform that provides personalized, real-time AI companions. Featuring expressive characters, it enables businesses to create unique, interactive experiences. The platform includes... MORE
Emotional AI Companions
Emotional AI Companions
GiddyGiddy Builds Adaptive AI Hosts for Connection and Comfort
GiddyGiddy is an AI companion platform designed to foster emotionally intelligent interactions between users and digital personas. It allows individuals to create personalized AI hosts that reflect... MORE
AI Kids Companion
AI Kids Companion
ToonTalk is an AI-Powered Cartoon Friends for Fun, Learning, and Connection
ToonTalk is an AI-powered platform that introduces children to interactive, cartoon-style virtual friends. These AI companions are designed to engage kids in fun, imaginative conversations while... MORE
AI Intimacy
Retail brands are using AI to create deeper emotional connections with customers
Trend - Retail companies are deploying AI systems that go beyond transactional interactions to build genuine emotional relationships with customers. These technologies learn individual preferences, remember personal details, and anticipate needs in ways that make customers feel truly understood. AI is being used so every interaction feels like a continuation of an ongoing relationship.
Workshop Question - How could your brand use AI to remember and celebrate the small details that make each customer feel uniquely valued?
7.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Interactive AI-Powered Retail Kiosks
Interactive AI-Powered Retail Kiosks
Skechers and We Are Social Singapore Launched the Luna Kiosk
Skechers and We Are Social Singapore have announced a new partnership that will see the performance footwear brand and the creative agency offering access to the Luna kiosk. The artificial... MORE
Optician-Focused AI Retail Solutions
Optician-Focused AI Retail Solutions
KITS Eyecare Ltd. Has Introduced OpticianAI™
KITS Eyecare presents an advanced artificial intelligence platform designed to modernize the eyewear shopping experience — OpticianAI™. This system combines facial recognition, prescription... MORE
AI-Powered Retail Advisors
AI-Powered Retail Advisors
Lowe's Mylow Companion Enhances Service & Associate Onboarding
Lowe's Mylow Companion is a new AI tool for associate sales floor devices and it's poised to enhance the in-store customer experience and the associate onboarding process. The app quickly provides... MORE
AI-Powered Loyalty Programs
AI-Powered Loyalty Programs
The Ubacart Loyalty Program is Targeted Towards Convenience Stores
The Ubacart loyalty program has been created by the brand as a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered discount solution for shoppers to help them enjoy exclusive discounts and wards for their... MORE
AI Companionship
Retail brands are using AI to create more genuine human connections
Trend - Retail companies are deploying AI systems that work behind the scenes to enhance rather than replace human interactions with customers. These technologies analyze consumer behavior, preferences, and emotional cues to help staff members provide more personalized and meaningful service experiences.
Workshop Question - How might we leverage AI to enhance authentic human interactions and create more personalized connections with our customers?
5.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
GenAI Coffeehouse Companions
GenAI Coffeehouse Companions
Starbucks Green Dot Assist Helps Baristas in Real-Time
Being a barista comes with the challenge of mastering complex drink recipes and working with various pieces of equipment, and Starbucks Green Dot Assist is a new virtual assistant powered by... MORE
AI-Powered Retail Advisors
AI-Powered Retail Advisors
Lowe's Mylow Companion Enhances Service & Associate Onboarding
Lowe's Mylow Companion is a new AI tool for associate sales floor devices and it's poised to enhance the in-store customer experience and the associate onboarding process. The app quickly provides... MORE
GenAI Furniture Sales Assistants
GenAI Furniture Sales Assistants
Evoneer's Store Assistant AI Was Designed for the Sales Floor
Evoneer's Store Assistant AI is a first-of-its-kind GenAI copilot, specifically made for the modern furniture retailing experience. Store Assistant AI, purpose-built for small and medium-sized... MORE
Employee Support AI Tools
Employee Support AI Tools
These Walmart AI Tools are Being Rolled Out for Associates
These new Walmart AI tools are being rolled out by the retailer to help support its associates when it comes to a variety of tasks. The artificial intelligence (AI) tools are being launched as part... MORE
AI Emotion
AI systems are being developed to recognize and respond to human emotions
Trend - Companies are integrating emotion recognition capabilities into their AI systems, allowing machines to detect and respond to human emotional states through facial expressions, voice patterns, and physiological signals. This technology is being implemented across various sectors, from healthcare diagnostics to customer service platforms.
Workshop Question - How could your brand incorporate emotional intelligence into its digital touchpoints?
5.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Emotion-Sensing Eyewear
Emotion-Sensing Eyewear
Emteq Labs 'Sense' Offers AI-Powered Real-Time Analysis
The Emteq Labs ‘Sense’ eyewear is an ultra-advanced wearable technology solution that’s engineered with understanding and improving health by harnessing the power of artificial... MORE
play_circle_filledFurry AI-Powered Companions
Furry AI-Powered Companions
Moflin is Casio's New AI Solution for Companionship
Casio has officially launched a new product that aims to merge artificial intelligence technologies with the desire for companionship and comfort. What sets Moflin apart is its advanced AI, enabling... MORE
Emotional Intelligence Wheels
Emotional Intelligence Wheels
Parrot Emotions Helps Users Identify and Work Through Emotions
Parrot Emotions is an interactive tool designed to help users identify and understand their emotions through a visually appealing emotions wheel. Grounded in the research of psychologist W. Gerrod... MORE
Human-Like Automotive Assistants
Human-Like Automotive Assistants
The Mercedes MBUX Virtual Assistant Has Four Emotional Profiles
The Mercedes MBUX Virtual Assistant was shown off by the Germany-based auto brand at CES 2024 as a human-like technology that will elevate the in-car experience for drivers. The assistant makes use... MORE
Personalized Empathetic AI Assistants
Personalized Empathetic AI Assistants
Compassionate AI Empowers Users with Context-Aware Learning
Compassionate AI is poised to redefine the landscape of artificial intelligence by offering a more humanized and personalized experience for users. Unlike traditional AI assistants, Compassionate AI... MORE
Visual Aid
Brands are designing packaging to be accessible for consumers with visual impairments
Trend - Brands are creating packaging designs with smart solutions for consumers with visual impairments. These solutions include scannable codes or symbols that interact with smart applications to provide either easier-to-read or audio-based information, more effectively supporting shoppers.
Workshop Question - How can we leverage technological solutions to make our products more accessible for a wider range of consumers?
6.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Accessibility-Focused Packaging Designs
Accessibility-Focused Packaging Designs
Müller Debuts Accessible Packaging Designs
Müller has announced a significant update to its product offerings as the brand debuts its new accessible packaging designs. The venture seeks to make shopping more accessible for visually impaired... MORE
Inclusive Shopping Labels
Inclusive Shopping Labels
Coca-Cola Debuts NaviLens QR Codes for Visually Impaired Consumers
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP)’s Great Britain Christmas can multipacks will now include NaviLens codes on its cardboard packaging designed to aid partially sighted or visually impaired... MORE
Scannable Infant Products
Scannable Infant Products
SMA Nutrition Introduced NaviLens Codes into its Product Packaging
SMA Nutrition, a division of Nestlé, has incorporated NaviLens technology into its infant nutrition product packaging. This development is intended to improve the shopping experience for parents... MORE
Visual Impairment-Friendly Packaging
Visual Impairment-Friendly Packaging
Haleon and Microsoft Have Partnered for Inclusive Packaging
Haleon and Microsoft have partnered on a new packaging initiative to help those with low vision or who are blind to read labeling on a range of products. The partnership coincides with World Sight... MORE
AI-Assisted Cooking Partnerships
AI-Assisted Cooking Partnerships
Unilever and Be My Eyes Partnered to Support Shoppers
Unilever and Be My Eyes have announced a new partnership that will support blind and low-vision shoppers using the latest technology for an easier shopping experience. The partnership builds on... MORE
eCommerce Assistant
Online retailers are using generative AI to create natural-sounding assistants
Trend - Brands with online storefronts are launching assistants powered by generative AI to improve experiences for customers. These assistants can interpret natural language, and have intimate knowledge of the business' product portfolio, enabling them to suggest well-suited products for consumers' needs.
Workshop Question - How could your brand leverage generative AI models to enhance its customer experience on its online platforms?
6.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Autonomous Ecommerce AI Agents
Autonomous Ecommerce AI Agents
Baresquare Debuts Tywin, a Tool Positioned as an Industry First
Baresquare has introduced Tywin, the industry’s pioneering fully autonomous ecommerce AI agent. This tech-forward solution aims at revolutionizing ecommerce workflows by automating complex... MORE
GenAI Shopping Assistants
GenAI Shopping Assistants
Shopping Muse Supports Michael Kors US Website Visitors
Dynamic Yield by Mastercard announced an advanced generative AI tool called Shopping Muse at the end of 2023 and now, Michael Kors is the first retailer to make Shopping Muse available to consumers... MORE
Informed AI Storefront Assistants
Informed AI Storefront Assistants
Bosch Worked with Zoovu to Assist its Online Customers
Bosch Power Tools has partnered with Zoovu to enhance its ecommerce storefront through the implementation of an AI assistant. This collaboration leverages Zoovu’s Semantic Studio to transform... MORE
AI-Powered Online Shopping Assistants
AI-Powered Online Shopping Assistants
Firework Has Unveiled AVA, an AI-Powered Virtual Assistant
Firework’s AVA is an AI-powered virtual assistant designed to enhance online shopping experiences. This digital human avatar utilizes Firework’s proprietary language model and aims to... MORE
Enterprise Retailer-Targeted Commerce Platforms
Enterprise Retailer-Targeted Commerce Platforms
Lula, Inc. Has Introduced Lula Commerce
Lula Commerce by Lula is positioned as a comprehensive online ordering and managed services platform designed for enterprise retailers. This new product suite aims to help retailers with limited... MORE
AI Kiosk
Smart kiosks that provide recommendations and point-of-sale support are being deployed
Trend - Retailers are deploying in-store kiosks powered by artificial intelligence (AI). These AI kiosks interpret and make recommendations for consumers interacting with them, thus streamlining the retail process. The advent of AI kiosks also reduces the required staff and, thus, costs for retailers.
Workshop Question - How could your brand improve its consumers' experiences by employing artificial intelligence, or other, smart features?
6.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
AR Retail Kiosks
AR Retail Kiosks
BIG Digital and DeepAR Bring Mobile & Desktop Try-Ons to Store Settings
Virtual try-on experiences for apparel and accessory products have revolutionized the way consumers shop online, and BIG Digital and DeepAR are bringing immersive experiences to retail settings with... MORE
AI-Powered Payment Systems
AI-Powered Payment Systems
Mashgin Introduces a New AI-Powered Checkout System with Verifone
Mashgin, an innovative leader in artificial intelligence (AI)-based self-checkout systems, is joining forces with Verifone, a global pioneer in payment solutions. The core of this innovation lies... MORE
Intuitive Self-Service Order Kiosks
Intuitive Self-Service Order Kiosks
The GoTab Self-Ordering Kiosks Support Quick Service and More
The GoTab Self-Ordering Kiosks are the latest solution from the hospitality technology brand that’s engineered with an intuitive customer experience in mind to support quick ordering, hybrid... MORE
Self-Service Commerce Kiosks
Self-Service Commerce Kiosks
Cantaloupe Go Brings Buy-and-Go Expereinces to Customers
Cantaloupe Go is a new product line of self-service commerce solutions and it was recently unveiled by Cantaloupe at The National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) Show 2023. At the event,... MORE
Automated Hot Food Kiosks
Automated Hot Food Kiosks
Sodexo and Automated Retail Technologies Teamed Up for New Kiosks
Sodexo and Automated Retail Technologies (ART) have teamed up to provide consumers with a quick meal at their leisure that’s easy for them to access at their leisure. The partnership will see... MORE
Barcode-Free Checkout
Artificial intelligence is used to identify barcode-less items at checkout
Trend - Artificial intelligence has been adapted to enable barcode-less product scanning, facilitated by algorithms that analyze images and videos of objects to identify unique features. This technology accurately accounts for retail items in real time, providing shoppers with seamless checkout experiences.
Workshop Question - How can your brand use automation to appeal to consumer's demand for convenience?
6.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
AI-Powered Smart Trolleys
AI-Powered Smart Trolleys
Instacart Unveils a New AI-Powered Shopping Cart Partnership with Aldi
Instacart and Aldi South Group are set to broaden their global partnership. As part of this expansion, Instacart will deploy its Connected Stores technologies across Aldi’s US locations. This... MORE
AI-Powered Payment Systems
AI-Powered Payment Systems
Mashgin Introduces a New AI-Powered Checkout System with Verifone
Mashgin, an innovative leader in artificial intelligence (AI)-based self-checkout systems, is joining forces with Verifone, a global pioneer in payment solutions. The core of this innovation lies... MORE
AI-Augmented Retail Checkouts
AI-Augmented Retail Checkouts
This Checkout Solution Helps Prevent Theft and Scanning Errors
Diebold Nixdorf, a multinational retail technology company that offers a variety of products and services that are associated with self-checkout and self-service transactions and point-of-sale, is... MORE
Computer-Vision Self-Service Kiosks
Computer-Vision Self-Service Kiosks
Toshiba's Vision Kiosk Identifies Items Without Barcodes
At EuroCIS 2024, Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions will give retailers the chance to experience transformational business solutions like the Toshiba Vision Kiosk. This cutting-edge retail solution... MORE
Barcode-Less Product Scanners
Barcode-Less Product Scanners
SeeChange Taps Diebold Nixdorf to Create AI Checkout Tools
SeeChange Technologies, a company known for its retail-focused computer vision AI technology, has announced a strategic partnership with Diebold Nixdorf, a global leader in retail consumer and staff... MORE