As artificial intelligence adoption accelerates across commerce and retail operations, industry leaders are increasingly seeking specialized tools tailored to sector specific challenges rather than relying on general purpose AI systems. The Retail AI Council has introduced Ask.RetailAICouncil, an industry focused AI assistant designed to provide retailers with practical guidance grounded in real world operational context.
The Retail AI Council, a retailer built and retailer led organization focused on advancing AI adoption across commerce, announced the launch of its new AI assistant alongside expanded collaboration initiatives including monthly virtual roundtables and participation in industry events. The initiative reflects the group’s broader mission to ensure retailers play an active role in shaping how large language models and AI technologies integrate into retail ecosystems.
Developed collaboratively by Council members in 2025, Ask.RetailAICouncil was initially created as an internal research tool to help retailers evaluate emerging technologies and separate practical solutions from industry hype. The organization later expanded access after recognizing broader demand for a retail specific intelligence resource.
“Generic AI models are broad, but retailers need precision,” said Andy Laudato, Co-Founder & Chair, Retail AI Council, and COO, The Vitamin Shoppe. “We built the tool initially for ourselves so we could better understand what’s real and what’s hype. Then we realized it could deliver real value to the entire retail industry, and we’re excited to see other retailers jump in and help us expand the tool.”
Built on leading large language models and enriched with retail industry context, the AI assistant is designed to support common operational and strategic workflows. Retail professionals can use the system to conduct early stage research on vendors and market trends, compare retail software solutions based on business goals, draft request for proposal outlines, and prepare for internal stakeholder discussions around AI adoption and technology investments.
Early feedback suggests retailers are prioritizing domain specific insights rather than generalized AI responses. “Early feedback has reinforced our hypothesis: retailers want specificity,” said Lauren Porten Lavey, Ecommerce Advisory Board Member, Retail AI Council, and Senior Digital Director, Eataly North America. “Retailers are not looking for generic AI overviews; they want to know what’s working for retailers like them, at their scale and in their functional area. This approach is shaping how we’re prioritizing content and capabilities going forward.”
Council leaders emphasize that the assistant is intended to support decision making rather than replace human expertise. “Our goal is to help retailers move from identifying a business problem to understanding which AI approaches are most relevant and proven,” said Porten Lavey. “Before Ask.RetailAICouncil, we didn’t have an unbiased forum to understand what solutions work in real-world retail environments. Our AI assistant is specifically designed to guide better decision-making, not replace internal expertise or leadership judgment, and it is supporting retailers as a source of clarity in a rapidly evolving tech ecosystem.”
The launch of Ask.RetailAICouncil highlights a growing trend toward industry specific AI assistants that embed domain knowledge into large language model workflows. As retailers navigate rapid technological change, specialized AI tools are emerging as key resources for translating innovation into practical operational strategies.
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