NRF 2025: AI Boosts Retail Efficiency and Productivity

Published Date : 12/01/2025 

NVIDIA, a leader in artificial intelligence computing, recently announced its AI Blueprint for retail shopping assistants, a generative AI reference workflow designed to transform shopping experiences. ‘It’s to the physical world what ChatGPT is to text and language,’ says NVIDIA’s Azita Martin. 

With the plethora of options for incorporating artificial intelligence in retail, from back office to inventory management, customer experience, and personalization, it can be overwhelming to decide where to start.

However, at NRF 2025 Retail’s Big Show, the message was clear just start.

John Furner, President and CEO of Walmart U.S., and Azita Martin, Vice President and General Manager of Retail & CPG at NVIDIA, shared the stage for a comprehensive discussion on the current and potential uses of AI in the retail sector.

The conversation covered a wide range of topics, from practical examples to the importance of embracing risk and continuous learning.

Martin highlighted a quote from NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang ‘Is ChatGPT going to take our job? No, but someone using generative AI may take your job.

So, embrace it.

It’s a tool that just makes you more productive, and it’s going to make you so much smarter.’ This sentiment underscores the transformative potential of AI in retail.

NVIDIA, a leader in artificial intelligence computing, recently launched the AI Blueprint for retail shopping assistants.

This generative AI reference workflow is designed to revolutionize shopping experiences both online and in stores.

It aims to help developers create AI-powered digital assistants that can work alongside and support human workers.

The company also introduced Mega, an Omniverse Blueprint for developing, testing, and optimizing physical AI and robot fleets at scale.

This is done using digital twins before deployment into real-world facilities.

Additionally, NVIDIA unveiled Nemotron, a family of models that combine language skills and perception, enabling developers to create and deploy AI agents across various applications.

‘It’s to the physical world what ChatGPT is to text and language,’ Martin emphasized.

One of the notable examples of AI integration is L’Oréal’s use of digital twins of assets combined with generative AI models.

This approach has accelerated the creation of engaging ads and marketing campaigns.

Walmart, on the other hand, has leveraged NVIDIA’s data science acceleration libraries to focus on forecasting.

‘For a company of Walmart’s scale, even a one percent improvement in forecast accuracy can have a significant impact on business,’ Martin noted.

Both Furner and Martin are excited about the potential of AI in the supply chain.

The ability to create a physically accurate digital twin of a store or distribution center allows for the simulation of different layouts and the observation of how people and objects interact before making capital investments.

Lowe’s, for example, has created digital twins of 1,700 of its stores, which are updated several times a day with operational and inventory data.

This enables the simulation of different layouts to optimize customer shopping experiences and boost sales and revenue.

Furner compared digital twins to video games, where ideas can be simulated and played out to see real results.

‘You can do the same thing in business,’ he said.

He encouraged NRF 2025 attendees to fully engage with the AI exhibits, sessions, and discussions, emphasizing the importance of learning, asking questions, and benefiting from the event.

In summary, the integration of AI in retail is not just about staying competitive; it’s about transforming operations to be smarter and more efficient.

By embracing AI tools, retailers can unlock new opportunities and drive significant business benefits. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS):

Q: What is NVIDIA's AI Blueprint for retail shopping assistants?

A: NVIDIA's AI Blueprint for retail shopping assistants is a generative AI reference workflow designed to transform shopping experiences both online and in stores. It helps developers create AI-powered digital assistants that work with and support human workers.

Q: What is Mega, and how does it help in retail?

A: Mega is an Omniverse Blueprint by NVIDIA that helps in developing, testing, and optimizing physical AI and robot fleets at scale. It uses digital twins to simulate and optimize real-world facilities before deployment.

Q: How is L'Oréal using digital twins and generative AI?

A: L'Oréal is using digital twins of assets combined with generative AI models to accelerate the creation of engaging ads and marketing campaigns, making the process faster and more effective.

Q: What impact does a one percent improvement in forecast accuracy have for a company like Walmart?

A: For a company of Walmart's scale, a one percent improvement in forecast accuracy can result in significant business benefits, including better inventory management and cost savings.

Q: How are digital twins used in optimizing store layouts?

A: Digital twins allow retailers to simulate different store layouts and observe how customers and products interact. This helps in optimizing layouts to enhance customer experiences and improve sales and revenue. 

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