Retailer AI Assistants: Are Shoppers Actually Using Them?

Did you know that while 70% of shoppers have experimented with AI tools to help them shop, fewer than 15% have actually used a retailer’s AI shopping assistant? In this episode, I unpack fresh shopper research from Acosta Group that reveals which retail AI tools are getting traction (and which are still invisible to most consumers).We’ll dive into surprising adoption numbers for tools like Amazon’s Rufus, Walmart’s Sparky, and category-specific assistants like Kroger’s Chefbot and Ulta’s GLAMlab. I share what this data tells us about placement, awareness, and how retailers can make AI assistants an integrated part of the shopping experience rather than a hidden gimmick. Plus, I explore what all of this means for brands trying to win in the evolving AI-enabled shopping landscape.This episode is sponsored by Connected Commerce at Acosta GroupTimeline[00:00] - The surprising gap between general AI use and retailer AI assistant adoption[01:00] - Usage stats for Amazon Rufus, Walmart Sparky, Kroger Chefbot, and Ulta GLAMlab[02:45] - Why launch timing isn’t the key to AI assistant success[03:30] - The “front door always wins” rule: why placement beats features[05:00] - How reach and frequency shape awareness and adoption[06:15] - Why category retailers should double down on specialization[07:45] - Three takeaways retailers need to accept about AI assistant success[08:45] - What brands must prepare for in the fragmented retail AI landscapeLinks & ResourcesAcosta Group's Shopper InsightsSupermarket News article on Kroger ChefbotMy article Walmart Reveals AI Roadmap That Points To A World Without Search BarsMy article Why Agentic Shopping Poses an Existential Threat to Retail Media (Part 1)Subscribe to Retail Media Breakfast Club's daily newsletterFollow Kiri on LinkedIn