Facing supply chain disruptions and dramatic changes in consumer behavior, artificial intelligence became central to how retailers adapted during the Covid-19 pandemic. As restrictions lift and stores reopen, here are the AI trends and technologies that will reshape the retail industry.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, retail operations changed overnight.

Brick-and-mortar locations closed. Customers shopped online at record levels, with knock-on effects in cybercrime and fraud. Supply chain disruptions led to product shortages and unpredictability. Forecasting models were rendered moot.

AI for retail took a hit in 2020 as pandemic-related uncertainties shook investors’ confidence. Funding to the space fell 30% yearoveryear in 2020, and deals reached a 4-year-low. Well-known vendors like autonomous store startup Stockwell AI (backed by GV, New Enterprise Associates, and others) closed shop.