Behind the Numbers (an eMarketer Podcast)

3 Consumers Retailers Must Know in the AI Era | Reimagining Retail

In this episode of Reimagining Retail, host Susie David‑Canyon and analysts Karina Lam and Sky Cannavis unpack the three emerging consumer archetypes in the AI era: the traditional human shopper, the futuristic AI‑driven agent, and the hybrid human‑AI shopper who uses tools like chatbots for mid‑funnel research. They discuss insights from Shop Talk 2024, highlighting how AI is now front‑and‑center at retail conferences, the importance of testing AI initiatives before scaling budgets, and real‑world examples such as Gap’s partnership with Gemini, Sephora’s ChatGPT integration, and Nordstrom’s native shopping assistant. The conversation also touches on how AI is reshaping discovery, with consumers turning to search engines and AI platforms for product consideration, while still relying on trusted brands and stores for final purchases.