Target names Chandhu Nair as first chief AI officer

Target has appointed Chandhu Nair as its first chief artificial intelligence officer, the company announced Tuesday, as major retailers accelerate investments in AI technology to improve operations and customer experiences.

Nair joins Target from Lowe's, where he served as senior vice president of stores, data, AI and innovation. He has also held positions at Staples and Gap. Target simultaneously named Purvi Shah as senior vice president of user experience.

Why it matters

The creation of a dedicated C-suite AI role signals how seriously retailers view artificial intelligence as a competitive necessity rather than an experimental technology. With consumer expectations rising and margins under pressure, retailers are betting that coordinated AI strategies can deliver measurable improvements in inventory management, personalization, and operational efficiency—areas where fragmented pilots have shown promise but lacked enterprise-wide impact.

Target's AI roadmap

In his statement, Nair emphasized practical applications over laboratory research. "The most meaningful AI stories won't be about what happens in a lab," he said. "They'll be about what happens on the front line – how we make shopping easier for a guest, give a team member a better tool, make a business decision with more confidence or bring a new idea to market faster."

Nair indicated his focus will be on developing a "more coordinated approach" to AI across Target's operations, including inventory management systems and decision-making processes.

Target has already deployed several AI initiatives. The company developed Target Trend Brain, a tool that analyzes emerging trends to predict which styles, colors, and materials customers will seek. During the most recent holiday season, Target launched a conversational AI program designed to help shoppers select gifts.

Retail's AI race

Target's move reflects broader momentum across the retail sector. Walmart has implemented AI tools and agents throughout its stores and supply chain to enhance both customer-facing experiences and internal employee workflows. Gap partnered with Google's Gemini earlier this year, while Best Buy has established collaborations with both OpenAI and Google.

The strategic importance of AI has influenced leadership decisions at the highest levels. Former Walmart CEO Douglas McMillon told CNBC in December that the acceleration of "agentic commerce" and AI shopping capabilities influenced his decision to step down in favor of a successor better positioned to capitalize on these technologies. John Furner assumed the CEO role in February.

"About a year ago, I really started feeling like this next run, you could see what agentic commerce was going to look like, the vision for AI shopping," McMillon said at the time.

The details of Nair's appointment were first reported by CNBC.