I had the pleasure of representing Delectable AI at GroceryTech last week in Charlotte, and one of the themes that was clear was that AI is changing how customers discover products, build baskets, make choices, and interact with retailers and CPG brands. AI is not just about adding another digital feature. It is changing how retailers leverage their data and systems to unlock more agentic experiences for customers, while also protecting the value of their data and customer relationships.

Mike O’Donnell from Flywheel made one of the more memorable points of the event when he shared that companies may have only an 8- to 10-month runway to catch up with some of the leaders in AI development. He also noted that 58% of clicks now go to Google AI, which is a meaningful signal for anyone thinking about search, discovery, retail media, and the future of customer engagement.

For retailers, this creates a very practical challenge. As generative search and agentic shopping experiences become more common, retailers will need to make sure their product data, customer data, digital experiences, and internal systems are ready to interact with AI in a way that protects the customer relationship. The Grocery Tech Trends panel also reinforced the importance of personalization moving beyond offers and into more relevant, helpful, and connected customer experiences.

This is one of the reasons I’m excited about the work we’re doing at Delectable AI. Our platform was purpose-built for agentic grocery commerce — connecting customer preferences, product intelligence, meal planning, health goals, promotions, and store-level context in a way that can help retailers create more useful and trusted shopping experiences. My belief is that CPGs will increasingly look to partner and invest with the retailers that figure this out first and best.

Thank you to the Progressive Grocer team for hosting a great event, and to the grocers, CPG leaders, technology partners, and vendors I had the opportunity to connect with throughout GroceryTech. I left the event encouraged by the level of discussion, the urgency around the opportunity, and the role grocery retailers can play in shaping what comes next.