Tesco testing AI Shopping Capability

🛒 Tesco recently shared that it is testing a new AI-powered assistant in its app as the supermarket looks to make meal planning and basket building easier for shoppers.

Initially, this felt a little clunky and #oldskool in light of Walmart and OpenAI launching agentic shopping straight from #ChatGPT. But after Walmart disclosed that Logistics and Availability complexities were derailing the project, perhaps Tesco has the right pace towards adoption..

The #AI assistant primary purpose will focus on meal planning - using conversational prompts to suggest recipe ideas based on customers’ preferences and dietary needs.

It will also be able to help shoppers add ingredients to their basket in the Tesco #app, using factors such as previous shopping history and product preferences.

Chief Executive, Ken Murphy, shared that the assistant had the potential to reshape how customers shop with Tesco over time, particularly through more personalised support built into the app.

The #retailer has launched the tool as a beta trial for colleagues, with around 280,000 staff set to get early access over the coming weeks before a wider customer launch later this year.

Tesco said the long-term aim is to use AI to reduce the time, cost and friction involved in grocery shopping, while also helping customers cut food waste by suggesting meals built around ingredients they already have at home.

Thanks to Kieran Howells and Grocery Gazette for the inspiration

What do you think? Is there an important consideration missing from the consumer offer? Please add your thoughts in the comments below.

STRIQE participates in a number of forums discussing and sharing best practice in the development of AI in FMCG. The pace of change is significant and in some cases intimidating.

Contact the team to discuss how we can help you stay in touch with the impacts that AI are having on your consumer's eCommerce experience using email - Hello@striqe.co.uk 

Ben Penrose is available to speak at events on matters related to this topic and others in eCommerce and Digital retailing