What Next | Daily News and Analysis The Future of Retail is A.I.
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Feb 22, 2026 Mia Sato, reporter at The Verge who covers tech companies and AI in retail. She outlines generative AI, chatbots, and machine-learning tools in stores. She shares quirky examples from grocery aisles to pizza chains. She explains why companies rush to add AI, how Google is pushing retail features, and the privacy tradeoffs of in-store tracking.
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Hologram Mike Was A ChatGPT Store Attraction
- Mia Sato describes "Mike," a hologram powered by ChatGPT used at NRF as a human-ish chatbot to lure customers into stores.
- The display featured a suspended clear tube, hot pink suit, and a mic so passersby could step up and interact with the bot.
Retail Conference Turned Into An AI Showcase
- AI dominated the National Retail Federation conference, pitched for HR, customer experience, loss prevention, store temperature control, and customer-facing chatbots.
- Exhibitors presented AI everywhere, turning NRF into essentially an AI conference for retail use cases.
Papa John's Demoed A Pizza Ordering Chatbot
- Mia Sato spotted Papa John's pitching a chatbot for ordering pizza and helping with decisions like how many pies to order for 12 people.
- The demo emphasized convenience for group orders, though Lizzie questioned its real value.