Boots expected to launch 'AI personal shopper'
Customers could reportedly use an artificial intelligence chatbot to get recommendations for beauty gifts and lipsticks.
Monday 18 December 2023 13:19, UK
Boots is reportedly planning to launch a "personal shopper" powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
The British high street giant is reported to be testing the chatbot, which could go on to give customers recommendations on lipsticks and beauty gifts.
If implemented, it would make the health and beauty retailer the first mainstream consumer to adopt AI software, which is trained to provide a detailed response when asked a question.
Work on the digital tool is expected to increase after Christmas, the Retail Gazette reported.
It comes after the company said it was to close 300 of its shops after an increase in online sales.
Walgreen Boots Alliance reported in June that Boots had growth of 13.4% in the third quarter of its financial year, compared to the year before, and increased market share, for the ninth consecutive three-month period.
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Sales on Boots.com were up 25% compared to the previous 12 months and accounted for 14% of all retail sales. At the same time, footfall increased 7% from the third quarter last year to this year.
Overall, Boots UK sales grew 10.2%.
The company has a long-established partnership with Microsoft - the biggest investor of ChatGPT's owners OpenAI - and already implements the chatbot in other areas of business, according to the Retail Gazette.
Sky News has contacted Boots for comment.