Kohl's Launched AI Shopping Assistant in July

The retailer introduced new AI features on its website and mobile app to improve digital conversion rates.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Retail

Kohl's Launched AI Shopping Assistant in July

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Kohl's deployed an AI shopping assistant on its website and mobile app in July 2026 to help users find deals and compare products. The tool was created to address low conversion rates that previously stalled digital sales growth.

Why it matters

The company introduced the assistant to turn website traffic into completed sales after experiencing stagnant digital performance. Executives are using the current holiday quarter to determine if the tool can effectively convert gift shoppers at scale.

Digital sales accounted for 27% of total net sales in the second quarter of 2026, a slight increase from the 26% share reported in the prior year. Additionally, 46% of U.S. consumers now use AI tools to find the best prices or deals.

The players

Kohl's

Kohl's is an American department store retail chain that operates over 1,000 stores across the United States.

Google

Google is a multinational technology company that provides cloud computing, search engine services, and AI platform infrastructure.

The details

Built on the Google platform, the assistant searches by image, explains store pickup options, and answers specific deal requests. This initiative follows the company's December 2023 launch of the Storybook Magic AI tool, as retailers look to capture the 22% of shoppers who start product research using AI.

December 2023: Kohl's launched the Storybook Magic AI tool.
2025: Digital sales remained flat throughout the year.
March 2026: The CFO reported on the flat digital sales trends.
July 2026: Kohl's expanded the AI shopping assistant tool.
August 26, 2026: The CEO reported AI assistant conversion metrics.

Market Landscape

Kohl's is integrating AI to capture the 22% of shoppers who start online research in an AI tool, marking a shift toward conversational commerce. This positions the company to better compete for digital market share against major retailers also deploying generative search agents.

Shoppers can now use the tool to find discount codes and navigate store pickup procedures more easily. These features are designed to streamline the checkout process and help customers identify better prices during their digital shopping experience.

The takeaway

Retailers are increasingly leveraging AI to reduce friction in the purchasing process and improve conversion metrics. Consumers may find that using these tools leads to faster price discovery and clearer information on store-specific logistics.