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AI shopping promises to make finding products easier. A former Whole Foods executive says it could instead extend the familiar retail battle over personal data and paid placement into the recommendations people see on AI platforms.

What happened Errol Schweizer, formerly Whole Foods Market’s vice-president of grocery, told FoodNavigator that AI shopping could make recommendations depend on personal data and advertising payments. He argues that brands may have to pay for visibility in AI-generated recommendations, much as they already pay for shelf placement or retail-media advertising. Mars estimates AI-powered shopping could generate $788 billion in spending; that is the company’s estimate, not a measured market outcome. The article also sets out policy developments in the US: Maryland’s law restricting certain data-driven grocery pricing took effect on 1 October; Connecticut’s broader retail law is due to take effect on 1 July 2027; and New Jersey’s grocery-pricing law is due on 1 August 2027. Why it matters

Discuss: Should paid placement in AI-generated shopping recommendations be treated like advertising, with clear labels, or should retailers be allowed to fold it into the ranking system?

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