AI is changing how retailers select tech partners

"Surveys suggest customers want to use AI for shopping and to see AI tools from retailers. In a CI&T survey conducted in 2025, 58% of 1,040 U.S. consumers said retailers should use AI to improve the shopping experience, and almost 75% said they were already using AI tools at least occasionally in their path to purchase. In a separate survey from Gartner last March, 56% of millennials said they would be willing to let AI handle or assist with some of their shopping tasks."

"Bringing AI into a retailer's business could mean using models they already have access to through partnerships with OpenAI, Google or Microsoft; implementing AI features from existing software vendors; or working with a newer AI startup. Often, retailers will do a mix of all of these, depending on the desired use case. Given how quickly AI has entered the collective consciousness, there has been more pressure on retailers to deploy AI features more quickly and experiment to see what works."

Artificial intelligence tools have quickly reshaped how retailers select technology partners for marketing, supply chain and merchandising. A 2025 CI&T survey of 1,040 U.S. consumers found 58% said retailers should use AI to improve shopping, and almost 75% said they already used AI tools at least occasionally in their path to purchase. A separate Gartner survey found 56% of millennials willing to let AI handle or assist some shopping tasks. Retailers can implement AI via partnerships with OpenAI, Google or Microsoft, vendor-provided features, or newer startups, often mixing approaches by use case. The rapid pace of AI innovation pressures retailers to experiment and deploy quickly while maintaining due diligence because AI can be complex and costly.

Read at Modern Retail