Target a retailer based in the United States plans to introduce an AI chatbot in its stores across the country by August

Retail titan Target Corporation is introducing a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) tool to assist its extensive workforce spread across nearly 2,000 stores in the United States. Set to launch in August, the AI chatbot, dubbed “Store Companion,” will aid employees in answering work-related questions, training new team members, and supporting store operations. Target aims to streamline its staff members’ tasks and enhance the overall shopping experience. The chatbot will be accessible through an app installed on the handheld devices utilized by Target employees, providing immediate solutions to their inquiries about processes and procedures. For instance, employees could ask Store Companion how to sign up a customer for a Target Circle Card or how to restart a cash register during a power outage. Target’s Executive Vice President and Chief Stores Officer, Mark Schindele, lauded generative AI as a groundbreaking technology that will simplify work tasks and improve the customer journey. The company, which boasts over 400,000 employees in the US, is currently testing Store Companion at approximately 400 stores to gather feedback and refine the tool before implementing it on a larger scale. Additionally, Target leverages generative AI to summarize reviews and enhance product descriptions on its website, assisting shoppers in making informed purchase decisions. The company is also exploring numerous other potential applications for generative AI in the future. Despite the announcement, Target’s stock price remained relatively unaffected on Thursday, increasing by 0.59% to $143.38, according to Google Finance data.