AI Update, January 23, 2026: AI News and Views From the Past Week

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Marketing Profs Mentions First Insight | AI Update, January 23, 2026: AI News and Views From the Past Week

Retailers embed conversational AI directly into pricing and assortment decisions. Retail analytics firm First Insight has launched Ellis, a conversational interface that allows merchandising and planning teams to query predictive consumer insight through dialogue rather than dashboards. The tool aims to compress decision cycles and make pricing, assortment, and demand forecasting insights accessible at the moment of line review or concept development. Research cited in the article suggests retailers often struggle to translate collected data into timely action. Conversational interfaces layered on analytics platforms are positioned as a way to reduce friction and improve commercial outcomes.

Importance for marketers: Expect predictive insight to move from reports to real-time interaction. Marketing and merchandising teams may gain faster scenario testing, but governance and data quality will determine impact.

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January 26 2026 by Marketing Profs

first insight  predictive analytics  retail  VoC  consumer insights  press coverage  press  retail ai  ellis  predictive llm  ai news  predictive ai  marketing profs

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