While most of the industry is just starting to understand the possibilities of quickly evolving technologies like artificial intelligence and its applications for retail, Walmart is sprinting ahead with projects like its Intelligent Retail Lab, a fully operating store with an in-store AI lab. Mike Hanrahan, CEO of Walmart's Intelligent Retail Lab, joined the podcast after his appearance at the NRF Foundation Student Program to share more about the lab and what it means for the future of retail.
“The Intelligent Retail Lab, IRL, is a place where Walmart is going to learn to build the products, tools, services in the AI field that we think will be transformative to Walmart's retail needs in the coming years,” Hanrahan says. “So, you can think of it [as] an artificial intelligence factory. It's the place where we're going to do the discovery, do the learning, productionizing things. And then, from there, hopefully, roll them out the chain across Walmart, improve the lives of our customers, our associates, and improve how we run the business.”
Listen to the full episode to hear what Hanrahan and his team are creating in the Intelligent Retail Lab, and pay attention to the podcast feed over the next few weeks as we share some of the best conversations happening from NRF 2020 Vision: Retail's Big Show.
