AI

Canadian SMEs remain optimistic but take more cautious approach to hiring and AI investment: Employment Hero

Mario Toneguzzi -
The survey suggests businesses are increasingly looking at AI as a tool for day-to-day operations rather than simply experimenting with the technology, with productivity and efficiency among the stated priorities.

Daily Synopsis: August 24, 2026

Retail Insider -
Canadians still head to malls, Ilia Beauty grows out of Vancouver roots, Reformation opening at CF Toronto Eaton Centre Sept. 1, Toronto camera store closing after 25 years, and other news.

AI’s Growth Reveals a Hidden $381.3 Million Problem for Retail Brands: Outdated and Unmanaged Enterprise Content

Mario Toneguzzi -
88% of retail executives say high-quality, well-maintained digital content will be more important to their business success over the next two years than it has been in the past

AI Is Shaping Back-to-School Shopping for Canadian Consumers: Accenture

Mario Toneguzzi -
AI is influencing how Canadians plan back-to-school purchases, with parents using AI tools to compare prices, build shopping lists and find products.

43% of Canadians Less Likely to Trust AI-Generated Ads, Vistar Media Finds

Mario Toneguzzi -
Consumers continue to value the qualities AI often struggles to replicate: 69% say humour, emotion and entertainment make ads memorable, and more than half say relevance is what captures their attention.

AI Isn’t Expected to Cut Canadian Retail Jobs by 2031, but the Skills Needed Are Changing: ServiceNow

Mario Toneguzzi -
The implication for retailers is clear: competitive advantage is likely to come less from expanding headcount and more from reskilling existing employees for an AI-enabled future.

Consumers assume brand content is AI-generated: Cashew

Mario Toneguzzi -
Nearly nine in 10 consumers (87%) believe the ads, social posts, product images and other content they see from brands are at least partly created using AI.

AI security spending rises as retailers face surge in deepfake and identity attacks: Thales

Mario Toneguzzi -
72% of retail organizations cite rapid changes in AI ecosystems as their leading security concern, undermining the ability of traditional tools to keep pace.

AI redesigns jobs, not cuts them: JLL study reveals business leaders expect workforce growth ahead

Mario Toneguzzi -
Global study finds organizations further in AI adoption anticipate workforce growth, prioritize full-time roles and focus on productivity

Retail Insider “Retail Technology & Payments Report”: Commerce Infrastructure Gets Smarter

Lee Rivett -
Retail Insider's latest Retail Technology & Payments Report examines how artificial intelligence, payments, loyalty, commerce platforms, and digital infrastructure are becoming increasingly integrated, reshaping retail operations, customer experiences, and competitive advantage across the Canadian retail industry.

Food Safety Needs an AI Upgrade: Why Better Risk Communication Matters for Grocery Retail

Sylvain Charlebois -
Opinion: Dr. Sylvain Charlebois examines how AI could transform food safety communications, helping grocery retailers, suppliers and consumers navigate recalls with greater precision and confidence.

Daily Synopsis: Jul 15, 2026

Retail Insider -
Jones Soda expands retail, Miss Vicki's returns, no plans for Carlingwood Mall redevelopment sayw owner, Red Apple renovates more stores, London Drugs cuts jobs, and other news.

Canadian Retailers Face New Discovery Challenge as Shoppers Turn to AI

Craig Patterson -
Canadian retailers face a new challenge as shoppers turn to AI for product discovery, with Retail Rewired’s Chris Parsons urging stronger content, reviews and product data.

65% of marketers say they have differentiation anxiety, new Cashew study finds

Mario Toneguzzi -
While AI has made content creation faster than ever, marketers say standing out has become significantly harder.

Accenture Study: Canadians More Cautious Than Global Consumers About AI-Powered Shopping

Mario Toneguzzi -
Only 60% of Canadians are open to an AI agent completing commerce tasks on their behalf, such as negotiating deals, resolving complaints, or renewing subscriptions, compared to 74% globally

Pinterest unveils new AI advertising tools as search shifts to conversational discovery

Mario Toneguzzi -
Pinterest rolled out a new set of AI ad tools focused on three things marketers care about right now: performance, workflow efficiency, and interoperability. 

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.

Apple Canada Launches Enhanced Siri AI Features

Lee Rivett -
Apple Canada has unveiled a significantly upgraded version of its voice assistant, Siri AI, offering advanced capabilities and personal context understanding. The new features will begin developer testing immediately and will be available to users later this 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.
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