Ralph Lauren elevates AI to the C-suite

Core Insights - Retailers are increasingly adopting AI to reduce costs, enhance customer experience, and improve operational efficiencies [3] - Ralph Lauren is prioritizing AI, data, and analytics, expecting capital expenditures to reach 5% of revenue by fiscal year 2026 [3][4] - The company has been on its AI journey for nearly a decade and is now focusing on agentic AI, leveraging rich data and talented data scientists [4] Industry Trends - Nearly two-thirds of retail leaders believe that failure to adopt AI agents within the next two years poses a risk to their businesses [4] - Retailers are better positioned for agentic AI adoption compared to other sectors, with nearly 20% having implemented AI agents or multiagent systems [5] - Retail is among the top five most advanced industries in AI adoption according to a Capgemini report [5] Company Developments - Walmart has streamlined its agentic strategy, focusing on four "super agents" [6] - Williams-Sonoma is utilizing Salesforce to implement AI agents aimed at reducing service costs and providing personalized support [6] - Ralph Lauren has elevated AI to its C-suite, appointing Naveen Seshadri as global chief digital officer, emphasizing AI's role across various operations [8]