I regularly fly with KLM from Minneapolis to New Delhi, and always stop over in Amsterdam.
I have done the journey so many times that I know almost all the shops at Schiphol inside out.
I was tired, hungry, sleepy, and the customer-service counter was closed.
I texted the KLM WhatsApp number and went back and forth with an assistant on my choices.
Within minutes I was on the next flight, with the boarding pass on my phone.
If you havent encountered it yet, you will soon.
Certain supermarkets are providing voice-enabled shopping services to customers, for example.
Not to be outdone,Walmart recently boughtconversation-commerce specialist Botmock to expand its services in this area.
40% off TNW Conference!
So how is this market developing, and what does it mean for our shopping habits?
All the same, it is cropping up everywhere.
You click on1-800-Flowers.com, a conversational AI tool integrated with Messenger, and explain what you want.
You dont even need to enter card details if you use Apple, Samsung or Google Pay.
Or maybe like me you are a die-hard coffee lover.
I used to stand in a queue to get my morning latte, but not now.
We already see big retailers offering personalised products to attract customers for exampleNikeandAdidasallowing people to design their own trainers.
But by using sophisticated AI, personalisation can move to a whole new level.
Meanwhile, businesses will gain new insights into peoples shopping behaviour.
Yes this raises privacy questions, but it will also help businesses to refine their offering.
This should reduce returns and increase sales.
The relationship eventually becomes unworkable when it emerges that Samantha is simultaneously having intimate friendships with thousands of men.
She then combines with other AIs to perform an upgrade that leads to them withdrawing from human interaction.
The technology must not harm humans or pose any threat to their dignity.
For instance,Microsoft recentlyrestricted its voice mimicry technology because it makes it easier to createdeep-fake videos.
Another issue is jobs.
Automation is clearly a threat to the workforce, and conversational commerce could well be part of that.
One consolation is that AI in its entirety might create more jobs than it destroys.
What may seem alien to our generation is likely to be second nature to the shoppers of tomorrow.
