John Lewis Embraces AI Shopping Amid Economic Headwinds

John Lewis is increasing its investment in content creation to engage customers, especially as more people find products using AI agents. Searches from AI agents have jumped to 2.5%, up from just 0.3% a year ago, and this trend is accelerating across all age groups. The retailer is opening a new studio in its Oxford Street store for influencers to create content. It's also producing its own video series with celebrities. This comes as British shoppers are being very careful with their spending due to concerns about inflation and higher interest rates. The bottom line is John Lewis is adapting to how customers shop online, particularly with the rise of AI, during a challenging economic period.