Walmart’s Intelligent Retail Lab Harnesses AI

Walmart Inc. is test-driving artificial intelligence technology at one of its busiest Neighborhood Markets in the U.S., its Levittown, N.Y., location, and calling the experiment, Intelligent Retail Lab or IRL. The technology was created and designed for the store by Walmart’s ring-fenced incubator, Store No. 8. The retail behemoth said the application of AI in e-commerce has become de rigueur, but the technology hasn’t made its way to brick-and-mortar en masse. Walmart is applying AI to inventory to improve the customer experience and satisfaction, using techniques such as training AI models with synthetic data, which can help associates keep better track of inventory and know when items need to be restocked. AI can ensure that online orders are always ready for in-store pickup and make it easier for customers to return online purchases to the store, creating a more seamless experience. It can eliminate brick-and-mortar pain points such as having to hunt for a shopping cart, and long lines at the cash register by monitoring the situations. The technology can also improve the safety and cleanliness of stores, alerting associates of spills and other hazards.  IRL’s AI-enabled cameras and massive data center can provide real-time, precise information to associates about the need to restock items, or

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