Target Corporation, a major retail company, is introducing a new generative artificial intelligence tool to support its numerous employees in almost 2,000 stores throughout the United States.
According to a statement released by the company on June 20, the AI chatbot named "Store Companion" is scheduled to launch in August. Its purpose will be to assist staff with on-the-job process inquiries, provide guidance to new team members, and aid in supporting store operations.
Target said the new generative AI-powered chatbot is “designed to make team members’ jobs easier and enhance the shopping experience.” It will be available as an app on the handheld devices used by Target staff members, providing immediate answers to their questions about processes and procedures.
Mark Schindele, Target's executive vice president and chief stores officer, described generative AI as a transformative technology that will streamline work tasks and enhance the customer experience through Store Companion. Macrotrends reports that Target has a workforce of more than 400,000 employees in the United States.
Target is utilizing generative AI to condense reviews and enhance the product descriptions on its website, aiming to assist customers in making informed buying choices. The company mentioned that it is currently experimenting with numerous other generative AI functionalities that may be introduced later on. Despite this development, Target's (TGT) stock price remained relatively unaffected on Thursday, rising by 0.59% to $143.38, according to data from Google Finance.
I wonder if this raises any concerns of employees getting replaced? Target has always been a bastion of entry-level jobs and a key player in the job sector.