The Target logo is displayed on a sign outside a department store in San Diego, California on March 23, 2026.
Kevin Carter | Getty Images News | Getty Images
target announced Tuesday that it has appointed its first-ever chief artificial intelligence officer, the retailer’s latest bet to capitalize on the AI boom.
The company announced the appointment of Chandhu Nair as chief AI officer and senior vice president, and the appointment of Purvi Shah as senior vice president of user experience.
“The most meaningful AI stories are not about what happens in the lab,” Nair said in a statement. “It will be about what’s happening on the front lines: how we make shopping easier for our guests, give our team members better tools, make business decisions with more confidence, and bring new ideas to market faster.”
Nile previously worked at a retail home improvement store. lowe’s He will serve as the company’s senior vice president of stores, data, AI, and innovation. He has also held positions at Staples, Inc. gap.
In a statement, Nile said the company is focused on a “more tailored approach” to AI for Target, including improving how retailers manage inventory and enabling faster decision-making.
To win back shoppers and investors, the company is investing in generative AI, including a tool called Target Trend Brain that helps retailers stay ahead of trends and pinpoint the styles, colors and materials customers are looking for. And last holiday season, Target launched a new conversational AI program to help customers find the perfect gift for the people on their shopping list.
Tuesday’s announcement comes as many major retailers race to catch up on the AI boom and incorporate AI into their business strategies.
target rival walmart has deployed AI tools and agents across its stores and supply chain to improve the customer experience and make internal employee processes more efficient. Gap announces partnership googleGemini at the beginning of this year, and best buy We are collaborating with OpenAI and Google.
Retail executives are predicting the shift to AI and how it will evolve over the next few years. Former Walmart CEO Douglas McMillon told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” in December that he decided to hand over the reins of the global retailer to someone “faster” who could take advantage of how AI can accelerate business. John Furner took over the post from McMillon in February.
“About a year ago, I really started feeling about what was next to do. I started seeing visions of what agent commerce was going to look like, AI shopping, and I started thinking about all the things that needed to happen over the next few years. And I really started thinking that now was the right time (to step down),” McMillon said at the time.
