From OpenAI pivoting its ChatGPT shopping strategy towards product discovery, to RTS marking a month until the event with a series new innovation features, and Pinterest launching a shoppable TV series, what’s been making waves in retail this week?

OpenAI doubles down on product discovery

OpenAI has announced a new shopping experience within its ChatGPT platform, which will focus on product discovery, making it easier for shoppers to search, find and compare products using visual and description cues.

The update comes after OpenAI moved away from pushing its Instant Checkout capabilities, which allowed users to purchase items from retailers without leaving its AI platform.

The new experience will allow shoppers to discover products by uploading images or describing items, as well as filtering by key search terms, including budget and preferences. It will also serve more visual search results, displaying recommendations side-by-side to improve user experience.

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Pinterest launches shoppable TV series

Pinterest has launched its first shoppable TV series, Bring My Pinterest to Life, to offer customers news ways turn inspiration into purchasing moments.

It will feature integrated QR-enabled shopping experiences linked to curated Pinterest boards, which allow viewers to instantly explore and purchase featured products from brand partners, including Wayfair and eos.

“It’s an entirely new way to move from inspiration to action, right from your living room,” said Nadine Zylstra, Pinterest’s Global Head of Editorial.

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Asda boss Allan Leighton on the grocer’s turnaround plans

Speaking at Retail Week x The Grocer LIVE, Asda boss Allan Leighton share insights into the supermarket’s turnaround strategy.

Highlighting that customer-centricity will define how Asda rolls back its fortunes, he dived into:

🥓 Creating a business environment where culture can eat strategy
🧑‍💼 Why Asda’s next CEO may come from within
🎱 Its game plan for doubling down on Asda’s ‘unmatchable mix’
💸 Moving towards value beyond price and discounter differentiation
📈 How a disciplined approach to data will drive sustainable recovery

Read the full session write up here 👉 Retail Week LIVE: Allan Leighton on customer centricity & rolling back Asda’s performance.

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Brits to shell out £2.39bn on Easter spending

Figures from Parcelhero suggest that UK consumers will spend £2.39billion on Easter, representing a +4% rise year-on-year.

While spending growth is not expected to reach the same levels as Easter 2025 when purchasing grew +8% compared to the year before, UK shoppers are still expected to splash out on chocolate eggs, meals out and entertaining over the Bank Holiday.

“A slight decline in the rate of growth of Easter spending is still not likely to dent the season too much for retailers or shoppers,” said Parcelhero’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T, adding the seasonal shopping event had the potential to put a “spring in retailers’ steps.”

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RTS unveils innovation focus, marking 1 month until the event

With less than a month to go until the Retail Technology Show, retail’s flagship event has unveiled a series of innovation-led features.

These include:
🔐 A new Cyber & Loss Prevention Zone showcasing cutting-edge innovation to help retailers navigate rising cyber risk, featuring solutions from QuantumEye, Sensormatic and Reveal Media.

🤖 A host of real-world AI solutions already delivering real-word results, from the likes of Vusion (connected stores), invent.ai (AI decision for inventory optimisation) and SAI Group (blending computer vision with GenAI for store intelligence)

⚡ Disruptive and transformative tech from the start-up community, such as 3D web solution FreakoutAI, martech platform ELIYA, and sizing software SAIZ

🛋️ WeComm’s Future of Retail LIVE Lounge – a conference within a conference format focused on innovation and networking, including tech tours with IGD’s Toby Pickard

🏆 The 2026 RTS Innovation Awards, which will be announced on Day 1 at the Champagne bar, sponsored by PMC. The winner will be selected from finalists including Cloz, duvo.ai, Ocasta and YOOBIC.

Read the full ‘Eye on Innovation’ round-up: Eye on Innovation: Retail Technology Show marks ‘1 month to go’ with innovation preview.

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SAI Group to unveil store intelligence platform at RTS

Active intelligence solution for stores, SAI Group, will unveil new capabilities within its SAI One platform at the Retail Technology Show (RTS) 2026, taking place on 22 & 23 April 2026 at London’s ExCeL. 

Exhibiting on Stand #T60, SAI Group will showcase its patented Visual Language Model (VLM), which blends computer vision with GenAI to turn traditionally ‘passive’ store surveillance systems into an active, operational platform for real-time store intelligence.

“By opening up vision AI through our VLM, we help retailers run every location within their estate as their best stores, turning real-time visual data into real-world action that drives competitive advantage, and keeps stores safe and profitable,” commented Som Sinha, CEO of SAI Group.

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Generational divides define sustainable shopping habits 

Growing generational gaps in how different demographics shop sustainably is defining how consumers engage with green retailing says new data from Product Experience (PX) company, Akeneo.

Millennials stand out as the most proactive group when it comes to seeking sustainability information from retailers, with 47% saying brands should clearly and proactively communicate environmental impact.

When it comes to resale, Gen Z now leads the pack, with 16% saying availability of re-commerce options is the most important factor when it comes to shopping sustainably.

“As sustainability becomes increasingly integral to the consumer journey, understanding how different generations interpret and act on sustainability information is critical,” said Romain Fouache, CEO of Akeneo.

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