Target Rolls Out AI Chatbot in US Stores

Target is rolling out an AI chatbot in US stores to provide staff members with immediate responses to any work-related inquiries they may have.

Target Corporation, a retail behemoth, is implementing a novel generative artificial intelligence tool to support hundreds of thousands of employees at its nearly 2,000 stores throughout the United States.

According to the company’s June 20 statement, the AI chatbot, “Store Companion,” is scheduled to be implemented by August. It will assist staff in addressing on-the-job process inquiries, guiding new team members, and supporting store operations, among other tasks.

Target stated that generative AI fuels the new chatbot, which is “engineered to simplify the work of team members and improve the shopping experience.”

It will be accessible as an application on the portable devices utilized by Target employees, offering immediate responses to inquiries regarding processes and procedures.

One such inquiry that Target employees could pose to the Store Companion is, “How do I enroll a guest in a Target Circle Card?”

Another potential inquiry is, “How do I restart the cash register in the event of a power outage?”

Target’s executive vice president and chief stores officer, Mark Schindele, referred to generative AI as a “game-changing technology.” He also mentioned that Store Companion will enhance the customer experience and simplify work duties.

Macrotrends reports that the organization has employed more than 400,000 individuals in the United States.

“The tool frees up time and attention for our team to serve guests with care and to create a shopping destination that invites discovery, ease and moments of everyday joy.”

The in-house technology team at Target developed Store Companion.

The AI chatbot is currently being piloted at approximately 400 stores nationwide, providing feedback on how it can be enhanced prior to a chainwide deployment.

Additionally, Target is employing generative AI to condense evaluations and enhance the relevance of product descriptions on its website, thereby enabling consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.

According to the organization, tests are currently being conducted on numerous additional generative AI applications that may be implemented in the future.

Google Finance data indicates that Target’s (TGT) share price increased by 0.59% to $143.38 on Thursday, indicating that the news did not have a material impact.