AI Investments Rise in US Retail but Readiness Falls Behind

A recent survey by Amperity reveals a striking contrast in the US retail sector: 97% of retailers aim to maintain or increase AI investments by 2025, yet only 11% feel prepared for large-scale adoption. While AI is widely used in sales, marketing, and customer support, applications like personalization and chatbots remain underutilized. Key barriers include fragmented data, high costs, and limited technical expertise, with 32% of retailers offering no formal AI training. Retailers leveraging customer data platforms (CDPs) are notably ahead, boasting higher daily AI usage and adoption across business units. Despite obstacles, confidence in AI’s transformative potential remains high. The report highlights the urgent need for unified data systems and workforce training.