Story thread · 6 reports / 6 sources

Target names its first chief AI officer in a bid to remake the shopping experience (exclusive)

fastcompany.com · 10h · first reportShare

Target has appointed Chandhu Nair as its first chief AI officer as the retailer doubles down on the technology and its potential benefits for customers. Nair comes to Target after more than six years with Lowe’s, where he was most recently senior vice president of stores, data, AI, and innovation. He previously served nine years at Staples, and cofounded a data analytics software company and a business strategy consulting startup. “What excites me most is the opportunity to make AI real for the people who experience Target every day,” Chanhu said in a Q&A provided by the company. “The most meaningful AI stories won’t be about what happens in a lab. They’ll be about what happens on the front line—how we make shopping easier for a guest, give a team member a better tool, make a business decision with more confidence , or bring a new idea to market faster.” Target is also promoting Purvi Shah, the current vice president of user experience design, to a senior VP role. The retailer is hopin