Agenda
Thursday, July 23
9:30am - 10:00am
Email
AI assistants are rapidly becoming an indispensable tool for store associates -- helping them locate products, answer customer questions, execute tasks faster and deliver more personalized service. This panel session of retail technology leaders will provide attendees with lessons from deploying in-store AI assistants that drive real operational and business impact and highlight future priorities, based on their practical experiences with deployment over the past several years.
11:30am - 12:00pm
Main level, Dragonfruit AI Stage
Disruption is no longer a moment – it’s the operating environment. Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping how consumers discover, evaluate, and buy, forcing retail leaders to rethink marketing, pricing, loyalty, and inventory in real time. As AI enables “one-to-X” engagement – deeply personalized experiences delivered at scale – the rules of retail are changing. Static pricing gives way to dynamic models. At the same time, consumer trust is under pressure as pricing, personalization, and value become increasingly opaque. In this always forward-looking session, Mitch Joel will introduce his P.A.C.E. framework to help retail leaders navigate this disruption. Attendees will gain a strategic roadmap to compete in an AI-mediated economy where adaptability, trust, and intelligent systems define competitive advantage.
12:00pm - 12:30pm
EmailAs AI, data, and digital platforms reshape retail, CIOs and CDOs are evolving from technology operators to strategic business leaders. In this candid discussion, senior executives from leading retailers share how they’re scaling AI, modernizing legacy systems, and unlocking the value of enterprise data. They’ll also discuss how the CIO/CDO role is expanding across marketing, ecommerce, and operations, while navigating talent gaps, governance, and pressure to deliver ROI on emerging technologies. Hear practical insights on how technology leaders are building the AI-ready retail enterprise.
As answer engines reshape discovery, retailers must optimize not just for search – but for AI-generated answers. Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) require brands to publish precise, high-volume, structured content that AI trusts and cites. Increasingly, models rely on sources like Reddit, LinkedIn, and Quora – where a single outdated or negative post can disproportionately influence brand perception. Retailers face new risks: AI hallucinations, reliance on outdated or paywalled information, and shrinking first-mover advantage windows. This session explores how brands can audit AI responses, scale authoritative product and policy content, and prepare for emerging monetization models from companies like OpenAI. Learn how to ensure your brand is recommended – not misrepresented – when AI becomes the primary interface for product discovery and purchase decisions.
Friday, July 24
9:30am - 10:00am
EmailConsumers aren’t just searching anymore; they’re asking. As product discovery shifts from traditional search engines to AI-powered chat environments, brands face a critical question: will you show up when customers ask for recommendations? This forward-looking session explores how conversational discovery is reshaping visibility, influence, and conversion. Retail and digital leaders will unpack how AI-generated answers differ from traditional search results, what it means to “write for AI,” and why structured, enriched product data is now a growth lever. We’ll also examine the emerging landscape of paid placements within AI chat and what it takes to compete. If discovery has moved, your strategy must move with it.
