<CES & NRF Debrief> ~ A professional take on the tech trends shaping retail and customer experience in 2026. ~

In January 2026, CES / NRF 2026, one of the world’s largest tech and retail events, was held in Las Vegas and New York, USA.

This event is a report session aimed at sharing the latest trends from CES, one of the world’s largest technology trade shows, and NRF (Retail's Big Show), the retail industry's festival, and co-creating the next generation of business.

Now that AI has evolved from a mere “technology of the future” into “a capability that must be implemented right now” on the business front lines, how should retail and brands change? Daijiro Ban, Chief Evangelist at Lazuli Inc. and advisor at Customer Time Co., Ltd., who participated on-site, will share future outlooks and how Japanese companies should translate them into practice through a recap together with Koji Okutani. In addition, Hagiwara, Representative Director and CEO of Lazuli Inc., will introduce how the use of AI and data will create winners and losers among companies through NRF sessions.

Key Points

1. “The Next Now”: AI social implementation has begun “now”
   This year’s NRF theme was “The Next Now.” It was not a story about the future; instead, the question was what could be realized at this very moment.
   • AI implementation and penetration into business: At CES, physical AI such as robotics stood out, but at NRF, the focus was on more practical discussions about how those technologies would be implemented in business.
   • The impact of agent commerce: Power struggles between platform providers such as Google and Microsoft and retailers such as Walmart are intensifying. In particular, as shopping experiences through AI agents become more realistic, the focus is on how retailers can maintain direct relationships of trust with customers.
   
   

2. The Importance of “Product Data” That Supports AI
   To maximize AI’s performance, it became clear as a common challenge that organizing the data that serves as its “foundation” is essential.

   • Organizing the product master: To support vague searches and conversational AI, rich product information (PDP) that includes not only specifications but also culture and usage context is needed.

   • Data quality determines success or failure: As many companies face AI utilization, they are ultimately confronted with the reality that “if product information isn't clean, it won't work.”
   
   

3. Redefining Trust
   In an era when AI can instantly produce the right answer, companies must provide not just the “right answer” but the reasons customers can feel confident enough to choose.

   • From promises to proof: Trust is changing from something expressed in words to something that should be proven through consistent actions.

◎Important Notes for Participation

・The contents of this report session are subject to change without notice. Thank you for your understanding.・Applications from competitors of the speakers or sponsoring companies, and from vendor companies, are not accepted. Depending on the circumstances, your application may be canceled. Thank you for your understanding.・Advance reservation is required.・Food and drinks will be provided at the social gathering. If you are unable to attend, please be sure to notify us of your cancellation.・Those who apply to participate in this event are deemed to have agreed to the co-hosting companies' handling of personal information and to Lazuli Inc.'s Privacy Policy. (This includes disclosure of personal information between the co-hosting companies and Lazuli Inc. for each company's marketing purposes.) Please be sure to review the privacy policy below. Additional privacy policies may be added.https://corporate.lazuli.ninja/privacy-policy/