AI Brings the '21st Century Renaissance' to Retail: A Major Turning Point for Commerce

AI Triggers Retail's "Cultural Transformation"

The 21st Century Renaissance of Retail: Why AI Is Commerce's Defining Catalyst

The renaissance of the 15th and 16th centuries marked the cultural transition from the Middle Ages to modern thinking...

In January 2026, AI specialist media The AI Journal published a thesis titled "The 21st Century Renaissance of Retail." The article argues that just as printing technology revolutionized the spread of knowledge during the Renaissance of the 15th-16th centuries, AI is ushering in an era of fundamental transformation for the commerce industry.

According to the article, approximately half of consumers (49%) expect AI to improve their shopping experience, while 48% anticipate cost savings. Even more noteworthy is the fact that in the UK, 36% of consumers purchase more from brands that offer AI-powered personalized recommendations.

Background and Industry Trends

2026 marks a historic turning point for the retail industry. According to Deloitte's 2026 Retail Industry Outlook, the past five years were defined by pandemic-driven e-commerce growth, automation experiments, and generative AI breakthroughs. The next phase is now transitioning from "experimentation" to "execution, integration, and ROI measurement."

Growth is also accelerating in market size terms. Global online retail sales are expected to reach $7.5-8 trillion by 2026, a significant expansion from $6.3 trillion in 2024. The AI market in retail is projected to reach $52.45 billion by 2030, and 92% of US retail companies increased AI investment in 2025.

In the industry, AI is beginning to transition from a mere "support tool" to a "primary decision-maker." As of late 2025, 52% of corporate executives had already adopted AI agents, with 88% achieving measurable ROI.

The Rise of Agentic Commerce: An Era Where AI "Shops on Your Behalf"

The keyword symbolizing 2026 is "agentic commerce." This concept refers to AI agents that don't just respond to commands but autonomously reason, plan, and execute.

According to McKinsey research, agentic commerce could generate up to $1 trillion in transactions in the US B2C market alone by 2030, potentially reaching $3-5 trillion globally. Morgan Stanley predicts that by 2030, approximately half of online shoppers will use AI shopping agents, accounting for about 25% of spending.

In response to this trend, tech giants are also moving. Google announced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) in January 2026. This is an open-source standard co-developed with industry leaders including Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair, Target, and Walmart, enabling seamless commerce through AI agents. Microsoft also announced agentic AI solutions for retail in the same month, declaring it would provide intelligent automation for every retail function.

Unified Commerce and Hyper-Personalization

Another pillar supporting the "21st Century Retail Renaissance" is "unified commerce." According to BigCommerce's explanation, this goes beyond simple omnichannel (consistent customer experience across multiple channels) to integrate all systems including front-end and back-end into a single data platform.

The AI Journal article also notes that 37% of consumers split their holiday shopping equally between online and offline. With 73% of shoppers using multiple channels before purchase, seamless cross-platform experiences have become essential.

Expectations for personalization are also surging. According to Salesforce's 2026 survey, 88% of online consumers want personalized experiences—a 66% increase in just two years. Companies practicing hyper-personalization are achieving 40% higher revenue compared to slower-growing competitors.

Impact and Applications for E-commerce Operators

For e-commerce operators, this transformation is both an opportunity and a challenge. Let's organize specific responses.

First, data foundation integration is urgent. Building a unified commerce foundation that links POS, CRM, and inventory management systems in real-time is becoming a source of competitive advantage. In January 2026, Lightspeed Commerce announced an AI-powered intelligence layer, with solutions for small and medium-sized operators also emerging.

Next, preparation for AI agent compatibility is necessary. Consider adapting to standards like Google's UCP and create an environment where AI agents can "discover, recommend, and purchase" your products.

On the other hand, maintaining human touchpoints is also important. As The AI Journal article points out, 64% of consumers are cautious about AI technology, and 73% still value "buying from people." IAB research also shows that only 46% of shoppers fully trust AI recommendations, with 89% verifying information before purchase.

Barriers to adoption include system integration (42%), data privacy (42%), and talent shortages (40%) as primary challenges.

Summary

The "21st Century Retail Renaissance" brought by AI is not just a technology trend but a major transformation changing the very structure of the e-commerce and retail industry. With the rise of agentic commerce, consumers are increasingly delegating shopping decisions to AI, approaching an era where objective factors like materials, durability, and size are prioritized over brand loyalty.

As NRF's 2026 predictions indicate, winners will be operators who establish "AI-era infrastructure" early while maintaining a balance between technology and humanity. Preparation should begin now, keeping in mind the possibility that "zero-click commerce" through AI agents could become mainstream within the next few years.