Welcome to this week's AI edition of The Commerce Brief 🤖

✦ THIS WEEK’S AI INDUSTRY UPDATES

01. Walmart is deploying AI and digital twin technology to manage its global supply chain, using the tools to route products around disruptions caused by geopolitical conflict and extreme weather events. The approach enables the retailer to simulate and stress-test its supply chain in real time before making decisions. (source)

02. The Very Group has announced a three-year partnership with UiPath to implement an AI-powered, agentic pricing solution across its retail brands. The aim is to deliver faster and more transparent pricing decisions at scale. (source)

03. Tesco is building towards a hyper-connected store model, combining a trial of Simbe's Tally shelf-scanning robot with autonomous cleaning robots across convenience and supermarket stores, alongside a partnership with Hanshow to deploy electronic shelf-edge labels. The approach points towards a future where robotics and AI are embedded across the store environment. (source)

04.  Whatnot has acquired AI startup Shaped, a machine learning company specialising in real-time recommendations and search. The acquisition will bolster personalisation and discovery features on Whatnot's livestream shopping platform as it expands into new product categories. (source)

05. Digital Commerce 360 and ReFiBuy have launched the AI Commerce Rankings, a new quarterly benchmark measuring how prepared Top 1000 retailers are for AI-driven shopping and agentic product discovery. The rankings are published as part of the 2026 Top 1000 PRO Database. (source)

06. Dollar Shave Club is using generative AI in its advertising and marketing operations, with Chief Brand and Innovation Officer Laura Higgins leading the programme to reassert the brand's voice through AI-assisted creative. (source)

07. Apple Intelligence has received regulatory approval to launch in China, with the feature powered by Alibaba's Qwen AI model. The approval marks a significant step for Apple's AI rollout in one of its most important markets. (source)

08.  Ulta Beauty has appointed Kelly Garcia as Chief Technology Officer, effective 31st August. Garcia departs the CTO role at Domino's Pizza and has served on Ulta's board since 2022, bringing expertise in emerging technologies including AI. (source)

That's a wrap for this week! If you found this useful or if you have any feedback, hit reply and let me know, or share it with someone in the industry who'd enjoy the read.

Thanks - Sue