Tesco trials new AI shopping assistant with 280,000 colleagues
Tesco is trialling a new AI assistant in its app, which will initially help shoppers with meal planning and building their shopping basket.
Having launched as a beta trial with Tesco staff, the AI assistant offers personalised recipe ideas that take account of different dietary preferences.
Subscribe to TRBOnce a user has found a suitable recipe, the AI assistant can help build their shopping basket within the app, finding relevant products and drawing on their previous shopping history and preferences.
Tesco said the assistant will offer customers a personalised experience that saves money and time, reduces food waste, and takes some of the stress out of mealtime planning.
The retailer will be inviting around 280,000 Tesco colleagues to road test the assistant over the coming weeks before it is eventually launched to customers later this year.
Ken Murphy, Tesco chief executive, said: “We want to give customers the best possible experience every time they shop with Tesco, and this assistant gives us one more way to help them and make their lives a little easier.
“In the long term, this assistant has the potential to transform the way people shop with us – harnessing the power of AI to personalise the shopping experience for our customers in ways that ultimately save them time and money.
“Nobody is better placed than our colleagues to help us get this experience right; they understand the customers and communities they serve, and we cannot wait to see how they help shape and improve the assistant in the months ahead.”
As part of the trial, Tesco colleagues will provide feedback on which features work best and will also provide help in naming the assistant.
