AI

AI implementation gap puts client revenue and talent at risk, Thomson Reuters report warns

Mario Toneguzzi -
While AI tools are widely used across legal, tax, audit and risk professions, many organizations are failing to translate that usage into measurable business value, exposing them to financial and operational consequences.

AI increasingly shaping Canadians’ purchasing decisions, National Bank survey suggests

Mario Toneguzzi -
39 per cent of Canadians have used generative AI tools to support a purchasing decision in the past year.

Checkout.com report finds consumer interest in AI shopping outpacing trust and merchant readiness

Mario Toneguzzi -
33 per cent of consumers expect at least 10 per cent of their purchases to be driven by AI within the next year.

AWS launches AI shopping assistant service for retailers, expanding Amazon technology beyond its platform

Mario Toneguzzi -
The new tool can reduce development timelines for retailers seeking to build AI-powered interfaces, with deployments possible in a matter of weeks rather than years.

Daily Synopsis: Jun 2, 2026

Retail Insider -
METRO names new CEO as Eric La Fleche retires, future of downtown Saskatoon questions 1 year post-HBC closure, massive Princess Auto opens in winnipeg with archery range and workshop, and other news.

How AI Personas Are Transforming Retail Decision-Making

Craig Patterson -
AI-powered personas are reshaping retail decisions, enabling faster insights across marketing, merchandising, and customer experience.

Daily Synopsis: Jun 1, 2026

Retail Insider -
Canada sees middle market squeeze, Metro's Carmen Fortino and London Drugs' Clint Mahlman retire on same day, Pepper Lunch closes in Richmond, 16,000 fake World Cup merch items seized, No Frills opens 1st Lloyminster store, and other news.

EY study finds Canadians using AI in daily life despite concerns over trust and security

Mario Toneguzzi -
AI use has become common across a range of activities, from travel planning and customer service interactions to health information and smart-device management.

Randstad Digital report finds gap between AI investment and workforce readiness

Mario Toneguzzi -
Organizations are deploying AI across their operations and technology environments at a rapid rate, while facing challenges in ensuring employees have the skills required to use the technology effectively.

Daily Synopsis: May 25, 2026

Retail Insider -
Ontario eyes highway licence-plate cameras to address retail theft, Billy Biship Airport unveils walkthrough duty free store, Yonge-Eglinton Centre begins renos, and other news.

Leger and Plus Company Introduce Smart Persona for Real-Time Consumer Insights

Craig Patterson -
Leger and Plus Company launch Smart Persona, enabling real-time consumer insights through AI-powered synthetic personas.

Daily Synopsis: May 20, 2026

Retail Insider -
More 'maple washing' complaints as retailers accused of mislabeling Canadian products, 200th member joins Grocery Code, Canadian Tire settles racial profiling case, Lego store opening at Square One in Mississauga, Byward Market hosting immigrant entrepreneurs, and other news.

Calgary fashion-tech startup Prévoir expands AI-powered Shopify merchandising platform

Mario Toneguzzi -
It extracts detailed product attributes from a brand's product images, such as colour and fabric, and pairs them with sales data to reveal which styles and design elements perform best.

Daily Synopsis: Mar 18, 2026

Retail Insider -
Fines for made-in-Canada claims could chill investment say food manufacturers, Couche-Tard optimistic despite fuel increases, most Canadians want to ban or regulate algorithmic pricing, legendary Italian retailer in Vancouver's Chinatown dies at 93, and other news.

Omnisend Study: 74% of Canadians okay with AI completing online purchases

Mario Toneguzzi -
Openness to AI tools handling checkouts is up from 68% to 74% since August 2025, with almost 80% willing to hand over their data for more relevant recommendations. 

Butterly Trust Index Maps AI-Era Product Reviews

Craig Patterson -
Butterly’s 2026 Trust Index shows how honest, balanced reviews influence AI-led discovery, and what Canadian brands and retailers can do next.

AI fraud hits Canadian companies’ bottom lines: KPMG

Mario Toneguzzi -
81 per cent of businesses that experienced fraud in the past year say they faced an AI-enabled attack with seven in 10 being targeted more than once.

AI Reshaping Canadian Consumer Shopping Journey

Craig Patterson -
New research shows nearly half of Canadians use AI during shopping, reshaping discovery, personalization, and in-store decision-making.

Amazon Launches AI-Powered Creative Agent in Canada

Craig Patterson -
Amazon launches AI-powered Creative Agent in Canada, enabling advertisers to create professional-quality ads at no additional cost.

Daily Synopsis: Feb 23, 2026 – Canadian Retail Growth and AI

Retail Insider -
Sukoshi Mart looks to further US expansion, recession called, updated renderings for Vancouver's flagship Aritzia, dozens arrested for retail theft at Metrotown, and other news.

AI Adoption Accelerates Across Canadian Retail

Lee Rivett -
Major retailers in Canada accelerate AI adoption, shifting from pilots to enterprise execution in agentic commerce and operations.

Loblaw Expands AI Commerce With Google Gemini

Craig Patterson -
Loblaw expands AI commerce through Google Gemini, following its ChatGPT integration and broader AI-native retail strategy.

Study Reveals 70% of Shoppers Use AI to Seek Promotions

Lee Rivett -
A recent study by XCCommerce and SmartBrief shows that more than 70% of consumers are utilizing AI tools to find better deals, prompting retailers to re-evaluate their promotional strategies in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Canada’s Grocers Turn to AI, Shoppers to Pay [Op-Ed]

Sylvain Charlebois -
AI moves from back-end systems to shopper-facing tools, raising new questions around pricing, privacy, and trust in Canadian grocery retail.

AI-enabled fraud surges as most retailers remain unprepared, Deloitte warns

Mario Toneguzzi -
As retailers embrace AI-driven innovation, fraudsters are using the same technology to launch more complex, scalable attacks
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