Nordstrom is celebrating the holiday season with an improved mobile app and special in-store shops. The updated app includes features like an interactive store map that assists shoppers with finding items, an AI-powered "Request a Look" option that instantly delivers personalized recommendations and a gift edit attribute for showcasing the holiday catalog. Additionally, Nordstrom is honoring David Bowie's 80th birthday with Bowie80 immersive shops with exclusive collections from brands like AllSaints and Marc Jacobs, as well as partnering with FAO Schwarz to open toy shops in several locations.

Beverage titan Coca-Cola is addressing the challenge of maintaining brand resonance as shopping increasingly occurs through AI agents by emphasizing the importance of context in product descriptions. The company highlights the need for detailed product information to ensure AI agents recommend Coca-Cola products appropriately. It is working to provide comprehensive context to AI, including moments for sales conversations.

Nestle Chief Executive Officer Philipp Navratil stresses the importance of understanding AI trends and their transformative potential for businesses. While technical expertise is not necessary for all employees, a strategic understanding of AI's capabilities and implications is crucial, leading to an approach that can streamline operations and enhance business efficiency. Navratil spotlights the need to rethink AI-related workflows and processes to unlock its potential, rather than simply layering it on existing practices.

Snack food giant Mondelez is integrating AI to streamline routine administrative tasks and enhance employee experience, engagement and productivity by merging facilities management, IT and HR into a unified "office experience" function. Mondelez has rebranded its tech function to "Workplace Digital Experience" and plans to merge operations by 2030 under a chief experience officer. "To ensure employees enjoy life is the mission and vision as it means they'll be more productive," says Geoff Wright, principal AI adoption and head of generative AI enablement.

UK supermarket Sainsbury's has introduced an AI-powered feature called SmartLists in its app, allowing customers to create shopping lists by typing, speaking or uploading photos. This tool is part of a broader app redesign that integrates various services like online grocery shopping, rapid delivery and Nectar rewards into one platform and aligns with Sainsbury's ongoing investment in digital technology, which has seen significant growth in online sales and delivery services.

Amazon is discussing acquiring Israeli AI startup Decart for about $7 billion, according to sources. Decart, founded in 2023, develops software to enhance AI chip performance and has received early access to Amazon Web Services' Trainium3 chips. The potential acquisition underscores Amazon's commitment to AI, following investments in companies like Anthropic and partnerships with OpenAI and Meta.

AI agents are becoming integral to customer engagement, with companies like Stripe, Shopify, Walmart and Meta setting standards for their use. The Personal Agent Protocol, developed by Meta, aims to clarify the role of AI agents in customer interactions, addressing issues of authentication, visibility and consent. This protocol is designed to ensure that customers maintain control over their data and interactions, even as AI agents handle tasks such as purchasing and scheduling.

AI tools are increasingly influencing consumer purchasing decisions, with 66% of shoppers using AI, particularly Generation Z and millennial consumers, according to research from Acosta Group. The primary reasons for using AI are to save time and money and to research and compare products. "Success requires brands to build new or elevated pathways for their products to be understood, recommended, compared and selected by any AI," President of Connected Commerce John Carroll said.

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