Today, the conversation is focused on agents for online shopping. But what inspires me is a bit further down the road. What if your agent knew you—your budget, your taste, your dietary needs? What happens to physical stores when your agent can “walk” the aisles on your behalf? What’s your vision for the future of retail - Do you want your own trained agent to act as your personal shopper, understanding your preferences and buying on your behalf? How will this transform not only how you shop, but how you approach the act of shopping? These are the questions that excite our team and the solutions we are building as we continue to reinvent the retail experience.
I would love my future personal agent to also take my values into consideration - is the product actually ethically sourced, organically farmed, measurably sustainable, not damaging the environment, etc. It's time-consuming and honestly not practical to do this research for every product I buy. I would love help with this!
I love this direction, Suresh! As a product manager working at the intersection of GenAI and retail in Walmart, I’ve seen how intelligent systems can personalize at scale, curating items based on style, budget, and context. Through GenAI-driven product listing optimization, we’re already making discovery smarter. The next leap is agents who truly know you and shop for you, transforming retail into a deeply personal experience.
Great perspective
I realized recently that the experience of shopping ( researching, finding deals, strolling through aisles etc) brings joy to a lot of folks (dopamine hits). I see agents being quite useful in some contexts but the value is more in assisting existing behavior. Curious to see how agents would be adapted.
Exciting times ahead, Suresh Kumar! I just want an agent who stops me from buying golf gear every time I have a good hole. I birdied the 7th, and suddenly I think I deserve a new driver and a putting green for the living room. Can my agent stop that kind of emotional spending? That’s real innovation.
Robots and humans are both vying for the customer’s attention and wallet. Sure, robots can scale to the moon and back, but they’ll never replace a real, breathing human. After all, there’s a reason we’re drawn to people more than things — even the world’s fanciest swing set can’t hold a candle to a mother’s hug. For shoppers chasing convenience, robots are a dream. But for those hunting the magic and meaning behind the buy, the human touch still wins every time.
Strategic Logistics Manager | Former Military & Law Enforcement Leader | Proven in Risk Mitigation, Asset Protection & Operational Excellence | Trusted, Tactical, Tenacious | Dog Lover
3moCooking is my passion, and many times my passion is inspired while I walk the aisles. A new dish, a different ingredient, or just a different mood. How does the personal shopper balance the unpredictable changes that are built in to "passion"?