Despite ongoing concerns around accuracy, cost, and customer trust, retailers are pushing forward with AI adoption, with 60% of industry leaders admitting they’re uneasy about the tech’s reliability. In a new survey from Monday.com, more than half of respondents expect AI to run most customer interactions within five years. The main barriers? Think data privacy headaches, uneven output quality, complicated integration, and the usual resistance from within. But for many, none of these are enough to pump the brakes.
Under Armour is one example of a brand charging ahead, using AI to knit together departments that used to operate in silos. The company’s CEO touted more than 80 automations now accelerating everything from forecasting to pricing and inventory decisions. This comes as part of a broader overhaul amid a rough Q1 report, which showed a 10% drop in revenue and a $305 million net loss. Still, leadership is betting AI-driven operations will help get the brand back on track—even if the bots still need to up their game.
Meanwhile, Advance Auto Parts is shifting gears with AI to revamp how it manages store product assortments. Tools previously powered by gut instinct or spreadsheets are now guided by machine intelligence. The tech is already up and running in markets representing about 70% of the company’s sales, with full rollout likely ahead of schedule. If there’s a takeaway here, it’s that AI in retail isn’t perfect—but for companies trying to trim costs and move faster, it may be the least risky gamble left.
Read more at CIO Dive.