While most Americans are focused on summer vacations, backyard barbecues, and staying cool in the heat, retailers are already thinking about Christmas. Import volumes at major ports such as Los Angeles and Long Beach have surged compared with a year ago, suggesting retailers are stocking shelves in anticipation of healthy consumer demand.
Adding a layer of complexity this year is the growing influence of artificial intelligence. Retailers are increasingly relying on AI-powered forecasting tools to predict consumer behavior, manage inventory and navigate uncertainty created by tariffs, geopolitical tensions and fluctuating transportation costs. For many industry observers, this holiday season could serve as the first true test of whether AI can outperform traditional forecasting methods at scale.
Hitendra Chartuvedi, Professor of Practice at the W. P. Carey School of Business at ASU, joined “Arizona Horizon” to explain the process.
