Image: NRF
NRF 2026 Day 2 (Monday, 12 January) shifted from the visionary “Next Now” theme of the opening to operational reality, and once again, artificial intelligence (AI) or, rather, agentic AI, took centre stage, focusing on how retailers are moving AI and technology from “pilots” to at-scale deployment.
Sessions and demonstrations focused on agentic AI — AI that acts on behalf of shoppers and retailers, not just assists — showing how it can power discovery, personalization, and even autonomous commerce workflows (think Google Universal Commerce Protocol announcement from yesterday)
Technology partners like Microsoft, Rezolve AI, and others showcased agentic commerce experiences, blending conversational AI with dynamic outfit curation and immersive shopping tools.
Retail tech leaders (SAP, Microsoft, Workday) reinforced that AI is now being embedded deeply into enterprise systems and not just talked about as a concept.
Key Themes & Highlights
From Generative AI to Agentic AI: A core theme was the evolution of AI into “agentic” forms—systems that don’t just generate text but autonomously interpret intent and take action.
The “GLP-1 Economy”: Significant sessions explored how the surge in GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is radically shifting consumer spend. Retailers reported a 4-6% decrease in household grocery and alcohol spend, with a massive reallocation toward athleisure, smaller-sized clothing, and wellness travel.
Empowering the Frontline: Technology highlights focused on “surgical precision” for store associates, such as voice-enabled headsets (agentic AI) that allow workers to report issues or check stock without leaving a customer’s side.
“Retail in Sync”: Physical stores were presented as data-rich hubs. Innovations like AI-powered shelf-edge cameras (already deployed by Morrisons) and smart-store platforms were shown to bridge the gap between digital inventory and physical shelves (ie. the connected store)
Retailers are grappling with unified commerce — blurring lines between online, in-store, mobile, and social touchpoints — to meet evolving shopper expectations.
SAP’s announcements centred on Retail Intelligence — using AI to unify data from sales, inventory, customers, and suppliers to improve planning, forecasting, and fulfillment.
Notable Keynote Sessions
Authenticity & Purpose: Actor and entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds joined Adyen CFO Ethan Tandowsky for the morning keynote to discuss building brands like Mint Mobile and Wrexham AFC through humour and human-centric storytelling.
Google & Walmart Partnership: Sundar Pichai (Google) and John Furner (Walmart U.S.) held a fireside chat on the “fundamental rewiring” of retail through AI as a core infrastructure rather than just an experimental tool.
Leadership Lineup: Other major sessions featured executives from Ulta Beauty, Sam’s Club, Vans, The North Face, and Shopify discussing strategy in a volatile market.
Summary of key themes from day two
✅ Agentic AI & autonomous commerce taking centre stage
✅ AI embedded into operations (forecasting, planning, personalization)
✅ Digital twins & smart store innovation gaining traction
✅ Experience-driven retail with immersive tech
✅ Unified commerce execution as a business fundamental
Look out for day three highlights coming tomorrow.