Retail is undergoing a major transformational shift – all thanks to AI.
The technology is no longer simply used as a back-office tool, it is now being integrated into every stage of the customer journey and operational chain.
This evolution of AI is characterised by the move to agentic commerce, with AI agents able to search, compare and even transact on behalf of consumers.
Which brings us to the launch of Retail Week’s AI Summit.
With so many applications of AI now available, this brand new, free full-day conference is here to make sense of the noise, get to the results, identify gaps for your business and ultimately enable you to use the power of AI to your advantage.
Come together with your peers at the Ham Yard Hotel on Wednesday September 30, for thought-provoking content, networking and breakout roundtables, as we explore how to unleash AI’s potential to:
- Shake up search and discovery
- Take advertising and brand storytelling to the next level
- Supercharge customer service and upskill staff
- Enhance store operations
- Reshape CX
- Optimise supply chains
- Turn data into direction
- ...most importantly, maximise ROI and value
Register below for complimentary tickets for you and your senior team to be in the room.
The AI Summit provides an exclusive opportunity to learn from and spend face-to-face time with retail’s biggest technological and strategic gamechangers. Providing a much-needed forum for discussion and impactful AI use cases, the Summit is intended for senior leaders in retail focused on innovation through AI applications.
AI Summit 2026: The agenda
We’re kicking off the AI Summit with an unmissable keynote from a retailer that has been using AI to generate real strategic benefits, beyond the hype. Watch this space...
AI is changing the marketing narrative; supporting a noticeable transformation from broad messaging and demographic-based advertising to hyper-personalised, data-driven and real-time storytelling.
In fact, research from Retail Economics found that £3.7bn (39%) of UK retail marketing and ecommerce spend is set to be reshaped by AI by 2030.
So, what is AI changing when it comes to how retailers and brands market themselves?
Join us as we discuss:
- How the fundamentals of retail marketing are being turned on their head
- Which retailers are leveraging AI to steal the spotlight Implications to consider – and how to overcome them
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Where people fit into it all
Welcome to the AI-powered store. We’ve got virtual personal assistants recommending products, frontline staff equipped with AI handheld devices providing access to crucial data and insights in seconds, prices updated automatically on smart shelves, and the ability to check-out with super speedy self-serve tills.
No, this isn’t a future imagining.
This is the modern retail store of 2026, and it can be realised by implementing innovative AI solutions. But is this tech really needed and what is the actual ROI? How is it enhancing the in-store customer journey? And what is the impact on store staff?
In this panel, we’ll discuss:
- What AI-driven solutions are having a tangible impact in improving the in-store experience
- The case for driving greater operational efficiencies and the KPIs that matter
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How to embed AI in-store to enhance the colleague experience, not replace it
While many retailers are implementing AI tools and testing and experimenting with the tech, fewer are capturing sufficient value and producing measurable returns from AI.
What then does it take to turn AI pilots into profit? And what are the KPIs retailers should be using to measure success and effectiveness?
We're joined by a retailer winning with AI, alongside an industry expert, to explore how to drive ROI from AI in 2026-2027, and the importance of going for growth and revenue generation – as opposed to cost reduction.
With margins tightening across the board, the ability for retailers to conduct tasks natively within platforms is creating significant savings and much sought-after operational efficiencies.
Retailers are beginning to reap the benefits of connecting AI to their inventory and order systems, using it to handle complex workflows, monitor warehouse robots, simulate ‘what if’ scenarios, and much more.
On this unmissable panel, we’ll hear from retailers and experts on the smart AI hacks that are cutting operational costs and bolstering productivity, alongside the importance of human expertise in helping to execute the technology.
You can expect to learn about:
- Autonomous agents
- Digital twins and scenario testing
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Copilots
Predictive logistics and maintenance
Be it offering personalised advice, managing queries, supporting virtual-try-ons or even verifying green claims, AI agents are helping to enhance the customer experience and then some.
In this fireside, we’ll hear from an inspiring retailer on how they’re implementing agentic AI to transform customer interactions and increase customer lifetime value.
Expect to gain answers to important questions, such as:
- What are the most impactful applications of AI to drive better CX?
- How do you measure the effectiveness of agentic AI, and how do you justify continued investment in it?
- What does it take to secure buy-in for AI-powered CX tools?
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How should you employ AI agents that offer the level of personalisation and service that customers expect from interactions?
Improved sales, increased customer satisfaction, consistent service, greater productivity.
These are four things on the wish-list of any retailer managing frontline operations today, and the good news is that – with AI’s increasingly advanced capabilities – it can easily become a reality.
The technology now exists to create a connected store environment that transforms the in-store customer experience and simultaneously empowers store staff to make smarter decisions. So how can it be realised?
In this panel, we’re joined by Motorola Solutions and two innovative retailers to find out. We will discuss:
- How AI is creating intelligent workflows that automate processes and streamline store operations
- First-hand accounts of how AI is being deployed to drive real results that link with workflow
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The power of AI to keep frontline staff focused on what matters most; the customer
Roundtable content to be announced
Data is driving the future of retail and data readiness is no longer an IT task.
Instead, it is a leadership issue and retail’s senior leaders must translate AI trends into consistent, measurable results; adapting their data strategies accordingly. But this is easier said than done.
In this panel, we will unpack what a winning data + AI strategy looks like and, crucially, explore how leaders can balance the use of data for AI with protecting customer privacy and security risks.
Glean insights on:
- Best practices for retail data strategies
- How to use advanced AI-driven data capture to power smarter business decisions
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The ethical implications of AI on data – and what is needed to strike the right balance
AI is completely overhauling how customers start their online shopping journeys.
Today’s consumers are using AI-based search to guide product discovery, help with feature comparisons and support product recommendations. This means retailers and brands not investing in AI-powered search are already falling behind.
What then does it take to win in this new age of AI search?
For our final session of the AI Summit, we’re bringing together a panel of digital powerhouses to find out. We’ll discuss:
- How AI is impacting search and discovery
- Where to invest to stay relevant and be present where consumers now are need
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The role of AI agents in turning conversations into retail purchases
AI Summit Speakers
We'll be hearing from a smorgasbord of inspiring retailers, brands and respected authorities. Keep an eye out for updates
Interested in sponsoring?
Our full day conference provides an ideal networking platform for you to position your brand as a trusted partner to the retail industry.