AI Retail Security: Proactive, but Privacy Concerns Loom

AI is fundamentally changing retail security, shifting it from reactive to proactive. This means retailers can now address issues as they happen, rather than just reviewing what went wrong after the fact. For instance, retailers saw a 12.4% decrease in shoplifting and an 8.1% decrease in merchandise theft in 2025 compared to 2024. This positive shift follows years of increasing losses and is attributed to investments in technology and employee training. However, experts like Jackie Swanson from Gartner Consulting highlight a critical concern: the move from tracking behavior to identifying individuals. When AI systems start asking "Who is this person?" instead of "What is happening?", privacy and customer experience become major considerations. This distinction between tracking behavior versus identity requires clear governance. Retailers need to define what data is collected, how long it's kept, and what happens when the AI system makes a mistake. This is crucial for maintaining customer trust in an evolving security landscape.