The Future of AI in Retail Business AI is transforming the retail industry by enhancing personalization, streamlining customer service, and optimizing inventory and store layouts. Retailers use AI to analyze shopper behavior, predict demand, and integrate robotics for efficient operations. As AI continues to evolve, businesses must balance innovation with ethical data practices to build trust and meet changing consumer expectations. [The Future of Things]
Which Retailers Are Best Positioned To Withstand Tariffs? Off-price retailers and grocers are expected to weather the impact of new tariffs better than others, due to lower import reliance and a focus on value-driven, domestic goods. Analysts predict off-pricers like TJX and Burlington will benefit from increased excess inventory and consumer trade-down behavior. Meanwhile, grocers and big-box stores with strong food sales, like Costco and Walmart, are seen as resilient thanks to their domestic sourcing and focus on essential items. [Retail Wire]
Amazon cancels some inventory orders from China after tariffs Amazon has abruptly canceled large orders for products made in China and other Asian countries, likely in response to new U.S. tariffs announced by President Trump. The cancellations, affecting items like beach chairs and air conditioners, left vendors scrambling with unsold inventory and financial losses. As a major importer, Amazon’s shift away from direct imports places tariff burdens back on vendors, amid rising global trade tensions and market instability. [Financial Post]
Walmart leaning into tariff uncertainty: 'Positioned to play offense' Walmart executives remain confident despite tariffs from President Trump’s trade war, citing past experience navigating crises like 9/11 and the pandemic. CEO Doug McMillon said the company is “positioned to play offense,” while CFO John David Rainey emphasized flexibility in pricing and supply strategies. Although Walmart expects some short-term effects, it continues working with suppliers to manage costs and sees opportunities to gain market share. [Fox Business]
HOUSTON (KIAH) — Last month, surveillance video captured Katy police approaching a home on Wempe Way in Southeast Houston to execute a search warrant following repeated thefts at Katy Mills Mall. According to police reports, they found stolen goods, Mexican IDs and airline tickets inside the home believed to be tied to the Mexican cartel.
Police said they uncovered just a small part of a much larger operation that allegedly involves at least 98 people, who they believe are behind at least $100 million in retail thefts across the country in a little over a year.
Tom Meehan, CEO CONTROLTEK comments@talklpnews.com
DuckDuckGo is sharpening its AI-controlled search while maintaining a focus on user privacy. Its AI-generated answers now pull from across the entire web—not just Wikipedia—and users can control how often they appear or turn them off entirely if they prefer."
Smarter AI, On Your Terms
Duck.ai, DuckDuckGo's chatbot, now supports several AI models, including GPT-4o Mini and Llama 3, while still maintaining user privacy. A new feature, Recent Chats, stores conversations locally rather than on DuckDuckGo's servers.
What’s Next?
Next-generation features include web search integration, voice interaction, and the ability to process image-based queries. The tool is currently free, but there are rumors that a premium tier with more advanced capabilities may be introduced soon.
Merged Search and Chat
According to DuckDuckGo leadership, ‘Everyone is doing AI, and so is DuckDuckGo. But we’re not launching an AI app; we’re continuing with our plans to merge search and chat—so your experience will be seamless and natural. We think that’s a better approach.’
Give it a go right now at Duck.ai or using the browser from DuckDuckGo. Search with the AI, and you'll see that by "smart" and "private," we mean what we say!
What Does This Mean for You?
This gives users more control over AI-assisted search while keeping their personal data private—a win for those who want smarter search tools without compromising privacy.
Try it now at Duck.ai or via the DuckDuckGo browser. AI-powered search can be both smart and private!
Reader Feedback: Yesterday's Change My Mind
Reader Feedback from our Executive Editor, David George's Change my Mind: "What’s Worse Than ORC? Glad You Asked."
“I couldn’t agree more with your comments in the 4/9 “Change My Mind” around putting more focus on Out of Stocks and Overstocks as a lever to both increase sales and decrease shrink. I have this same conversation frequently with customers and prospects, and it seems the challenge typically comes down to one or both of a couple things:
Theft and loss is a more “obvious” problem to target, with an easy cause and effect to track – a closed case is a directly identifiable outcome of LP/AP efforts and it is clearly “LP/AP’s job” to handle it
LP/AP teams not having the bandwidth (real or perceived) to be able to address traditionally operational focus areas
You mentioned the value of addressing both sides of the shrink equation (decreasing loss and increasing sales) in order to lower shrink results, and I think that is a really important point. I also want to call out a couple of additional points:
The number of instances and the associated dollar value of out-of-stocks, overstocks, and even other “operational” issues like mistakes, training gaps, and poor process compliance is much higher than the number and value of theft incidents. If we think about the number of times an associate at the register makes a mistake ringing a transaction or managing inventory in a given day, versus the number of times an associate or customer steals in a given day, it’s obvious that the larger share of value is going to come from the “operational” side.
Often times these “operational” areas are the areas where the levers we have are easier to pull. It can be difficult to play the whack-a-mole game with ORC crews, but with the right tools and technology it is comparatively quite easy to retrain an associate or direct targeted inventory management actions.
It’s well-known in the LP/AP industry that the stores that are sound operationally are typically the stores with better shrink performance when inventory time rolls around. If the issue is “we’re too busy tackling theft to address other things,” what if you had the right tools to enable you to do both?
If you run across anyone interested in discussing this further, I happen to know of a solution provider who can help!”
Submitted by:
Scott Pethuyne
Sr. Analytics Solution Consultant
Zebra Technologies Corporation
Multiple Rhode Island retail thefts believed connected to South American retail theft ring
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — At least three suspects are due in court Wednesday in connection to theft at the Garden City Center in Cranston.
Police believe the suspects are tied to a South American organized retail theft ring.
In Providence, four men were arrested after allegedly shoplifting thousands of dollars’ worth of items from the Providence Place Mall on Monday.
Providence police believe all four men have connections to the same South American organized retail theft group.
The Way Automation and Artificial Intelligence Are Changing Retail Management
Integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with automation is causing a radical change in the retail sector. Companies are using these technologies to simplify processes, raise client experiences, and change decision-making procedures. Solutions enabled by artificial intelligence enable stores to tailor marketing plans, forecast customer behavior, and maximize inventory control. Reducing manual labor, boosting productivity, and guaranteeing accuracy in retail operations depend critically on automation.
With instruments like retail compliance software streamlining compliance management, one important area where artificial intelligence and automation are having a major influence is regulatory adherence.
Refund delays more scary than root canals for many consumers
Nearly four out of 10 American consumers, 37%, would rather see a dentist than wait for a refund, according to TodayPay's 2025 "Where Is My Refund," report.
The survey, based on responses from 500 qualified U.S. shoppers, paints a compelling picture of consumer frustration and the urgent need for merchants to modernize their refund processes, according to a press release on the findings.
"This jaw dropping data highlights the growing consumer dissatisfaction with outdated refund payment methods and the heightened expectations for instant gratification in today's modern digital economy," Jeremy Balkin, founder and CEO of TodayPay, said in the release.
Three men accused of stealing over $7,000 of merchandise face larceny, conspiracy charges
CRANSTON, R.I. (WJAR) — Providence police said Keiner Perez Salas, Howard Garcia, and Beickel Arellano were arrested at Providence Place mall for allegedly shoplifting merchandise worth thousands of dollars.
Now, the three face charges of larceny and conspiracy.
However, police say this wasn't their first stop.
The men are also believed to be connected to multiple shoplifting thefts that occurred at Garden City, where items worth $7,000 were stolen.
New study accuses Amazon of skirting state law by allowing minors to purchase these dangerous items
A new report is sounding the alarm about online giant Amazon, claiming the company is not complying with California law and that certain products that are potentially dangerous to children are able to be purchased by children through their platform.
“The examination found that Amazon is currently not complying with §1798.99.1,” the new study from the Children’s Advocacy Institute (CAI) at the University of San Diego School of Law says about Amazon and California law.
Repeat offenders, retail theft: What to know about Nevada governor’s crime bill
Gov. Joe Lombardo vowed to “put teeth back into Nevada’s penal code” through a proposed crime and public safety bill he introduced this week.
The Republican governor said Senate Bill 457 — which he calls the “Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act” — has provisions that increase criminal penalties in a variety of areas including cyberstalking, retail theft, DUIs and fentanyl trafficking. A hearing on the bill has not been scheduled.
4 men believed to have Venezuelan gang ties appear in court after shoplifting bust
(WJAR) — The four men believed to have Venezuelan gang ties, and that were arrested in Providence Monday, appeared in front of a district court judge.
The suspects were arrested near the Providence Place mall Monday afternoon with what investigators believe to be close to $10,000 in stolen merchandise in their car, Providence Police Commander Timothy O’Hara told NBC 10.
According to investigators, stolen items included merchandise from Victoria’s Secret and sunglasses Lens Crafter's.
The suspects were using bags specifically designed for shoplifters to conceal the merchandise, O’Hara said.
Police believe the men are connected to a theft ring that’s been operating in the Northeast, and authorities were already on the lookout for them.
"They're not victimless": Lifelong Baltimore resident weighs in on spike in shoplifting
BALTIMORE (WBFF) — At the same time Baltimore city is seeing a decline in violent crime another type of crime is growing. Police say shoplifting is up and businesses are feeling the impact on their quality of life and service.
On a Wednesday edition of FOX45 Morning News Patrice Sanders spoke with community leader and lifelong Baltimore resident Pastor P.M. Smith about the alarming trend. Smith says he doesn't consider the actions taking place to be 'shoplifting.'
"What's occurring around the city in small businesses and even in a Target of Walmart is looting," Smith said. "It's not a kid grabbing potato chips and running. It's not an adult grabbing bread for a family. [Gangs] are looting clothing stores, alcohol and drug stores, jewelry stores and while some say they're property crimes they're not victimless."
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