SGAs AI-driven chatbots like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini become popular for product recommendations, retailers such as Walmart, Ulta Beauty, and Wayfair are adapting their websites to improve visibility in these platforms. However, they are also resisting efforts to share customer data, which they rely on for personalized marketing and maintaining customer loyalty. According to Juniper Research, shoppers guided by AI agents could spend up to $8 billion this year, while Adobe Analytics reports that 41% of U.S. consumers used generative AI for shopping in June, generating significantly higher revenue per visit compared to traditional methods. Retailers argue that they possess deeper insights into customer preferences and maintain stronger relationships when purchases occur directly on their websites. Ulta Beauty, for example, is integrating its loyalty program into AI-powered shopping features but prefers customers to complete transactions on its own site. Executives from Amazon Web Services and companies like Kate Spade emphasize that their websites offer superior personalization and customer engagement opportunities.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced view of the situation, discussing both the benefits of AI integration for retailers and the concerns over data privacy and control. It includes perspectives from multiple retailers and industry experts without overtly favoring either side. The framing remains neutral,
