Mongi Gazelle

I very often spend time scrolling through a website, looking for the perfect new gadget, and bam! “Hi there! How may I assist you? 😊”

Years back as I started my studies at the University, we could not even browse the web. I was at the university of Paderborn in Germany and I can recall the first sessions with Netscape navigator. Later we had websites and at a sudden, it was possible to have popup windows 😊. A few years later, we have had even greetings browsing the web! these came always from an operator sitting behind the screen responding to the website visitor and nowadays well, surprise… it’s most probably not a real person. It’s an AI assistant or a chatbot, delivering and serving overtime and not complaining one bit. The retail business is one of the first sectors where AI isn’t a distant future thing — it’s already born, silently making our lives easier, businesses richer, and me in need of a third smartphone 😊 and a second air fryer!

Like others, I need always instant answers, tailored recommendations to my habits and Hoppies. I do not need a smiling face anymore, but instead a service delivery that never sleeps – maybe in a few years both. Year after year I notice that I do need tireless digital helpers, the same reason encouraged me to get into the business of digital twins to predict, simulate, and get reminders for a coffee mug at 3 a.m.

I enjoy these AI buddies playing mind reading with me. They are like my best friend knowing that I have been googling “best extra virgin olive oil under AED30”. It is somehow scaring, but let’s be real…kind of handy.

Behind the screen, someone is telling me “I know what you have been looking for online, so with your next store visit, you will see, I will help you faster.”. Omnichannel experience? I love the fact that I do not have the need to explain my life story again and again! These chatbots see me, they love me, they help me! This is for me efficiency at its finest!

Of course, AI isn’t just about making things look cool on the surface. Behind the scenes, it’s the superhero nobody talks about. Companies like Walmart use AI to predict delivery issues before they happen — because honestly, nobody needs another “your package will arrive in 12 to 14 business weeks” situation. Thanks, AI.

But it’s not all perfect, and we have to talk about the awkward cousins of AI: data privacy issues, weird bias glitches, and the fact that some of us still need to rant to a real human who gets the pain of a delayed order. AI can’t empathize (yet), and sometimes there’s no replacement for human empathy or a good “I’m sorry this happened to you” over the phone.

Still, the future is looking wild. Imagine smart mirrors that suggest outfits based on your mood, drones delivering fried rice to your window, or voice assistants helping you find the right birthday gift and wrapping it for you. We’re not quite there yet, but we’re rolling into that future pretty fast.

AI in retail is here to stay, and it’s not just transforming customer service — it’s literally reshaping how we shop, one smart suggestion at a time.

So, what’s the funniest or weirdest thing an AI has ever recommended to you? Or did it nail your vibe completely? I’m dying to know — share in the comments!