How Autonomous AI Agents Will Transform Retail Discovery

In this episode, we explore the transformative wave of AI in retail, focusing on agentic AI systems capable of autonomously completing tasks without human intervention. Research shows nearly a third of consumer goods companies are already leveraging generative AI, but the future lies in agentic AI—technology that can act autonomously. Michelle Grant from Salesforce discusses three waves of AI: predictive, generative, and agentic, which can handle entire shopping processes and influence retail media strategies. Salesforce's Agent force platform and its application at Saks Fifth Avenue provide compelling examples. The shift towards AI agents calls for new content strategies and altered ad investments, emphasizing structured attribute-based approaches. Despite challenges like quality outcomes and consumer trust, over half of consumer goods executives predict extensive use of generative and agentic AI by 2026. Brands and retailers must quickly adapt to this imminent AI-driven retail landscape.Link to Kiri's Forbes post discussing this in detail: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kirimasters/2025/02/25/how-autonomous-ai-shopping-agents-will-transform-retail/CHAPTERS:(00:00) About Today's Topic(00:44) About the Show(01:06) Introduction to AI Waves(02:18) Salesforce's Agent Force Platform(03:57) Impact on Retail Media(05:51) Challenges and Concerns(06:48) Conclusion: The Autonomous AI Era(07:07) OutroSOCIAL LINKS:Website: https://www.retailmediabreakfastclub.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiri-masters/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@retailmediabreakfastclubApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/retail-media-breakfast-club/id1782187624//Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3s5MuqcrsOmQDKn3uMYJKbPRODUCED BY:https://aipodcast.ing