Innovation Summit 2024

Retail + Media + AI = Intelligent Advertising

In Silicon Valley on March 6, 2024, the brightest and most influential voices from the worlds of technology, retail, and media joined together for the 5th annual Innovation Summit hosted by CoolerX (formerly known as Cooler Screens,) Microsoft and Nvidia. The event focused on the transformative impact of AI in retail, specifically through the lens of intelligent advertising, which is revolutionizing how brands connect with consumers in-store. 

Innovation Summit 2024 Highlights

WELCOME TO THE COOLER SCREENS INNOVATION SUMMIT

Glen Tullman, CEO of Transcarent and Chairman of CoolerX, discusses the increasing the prevalence of AI and looks ahead to the conversations to come. 

KEYNOTE – AI IN EVERYDAY LIFE: PRIVACY IN SOCIETY

Secretary Michael Chertoff, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, and Chairman of The Chertoff Group is joined by Commissioner Dr. Ann Cavoukian, Executive Director of Global Privacy and Security by Design, Toronto Metropolitan University for a fireside chat.

These two leading experts at the forefront of AI’s impact on society and privacy discuss how AI has quickly permeated everyday lives, opening doors to create better experiences – but also creating potential risks to individual freedoms and privacy. AI requires both data and algorithms, and, if we cannot control the algorithms, it’s our responsibility to protect the data. 

BRINGING THE STORE TO LIFE: AI + RETAIL

On Stage: 

  • [Moderator] Mark Wattley, Chief People Officer at Cooler Screens  
  • Chris Edwards, Director of Innovation + R&D at Giant Eagle GetGo  
  • Shanthi Rajagopalan, Global Head of Strategy, Retail and Consumer Goods at Microsoft  
  • Azita Martin, Vice President and GM of AI for Retail, CPG and QSR at Nvidia  

The physical store is still the heart of retail, but it’s always been service rich and data poor. Generative AI will bridge that gap by generating not only data but real learning and value—and where there is value, people will follow. This panel discusses how AI can automate stores, making it attractive to retailers in many areas including marketing. AI also has the power to animate experiences and that’s what consumers will value – a multi-modal experience where they can see, ask, learn, use, apply and ultimately buy.   

FUELING THE NEW MACHINE: ALGORITHMS + DATA

On Stage: 

  • [Moderator] Andy Hill, Global Chief Data Officer, Unilever  
  • Cara Pratt, SVP, Kroger Precision Marketing, 84.51  
  • Nishat Mehta, Former President, Global Products & Solutions, Circana  

With the ability to impact behavior and the first-party data to measure it, high-quality, scalable data has emerged as essential for effective AI solutions in retail—and now has the element of prediction to drive outcomes. In this session, the top minds in retail data share the significance of data quality and quantity in unlocking AI’s potential, particularly in enhancing in-store experiences, highlighting data as the foundation for AI’s transformative capabilities.   

2024 INNOVATION TRAILBLAZER AWARD

Shanthi Rajagopalan, Global Head of Strategy, Retail at Microsoft, announces the recipient of the Innovation Trailblazer Award. In our industry there are certain people who embody the courage, optimism, and wisdom to lead in this technological revolution. With those traits in mind, Microsoft, Cooler Screens and Nvidia, recognizes Cara Pratt, SVP of Kroger Precision Marketing at 84.51, for her incredible grasp of technology and her willingness to embrace the possibilities it brings which have driven innovation and growth in the industry. 


PREDICTING AND SHAPING THE SCRIPT FOR BETTER HUMAN OUTCOMES

On Stage: 

  • [Moderator] Artem Lavrinovich, Chief Product Officer, Cooler Screens   
  • Amir ElTabib, Chief Business Development Officer, Ibotta Inc.  
  • Heather McHone, Director of Data Science, 84.51  
  • Max Snow, CEO, Yobi  

Machine learning in stores delivers newfound precision with data feeding smart algorithms that activate in the right moments with the right content. This session focuses on driving better outcomes using predictive models and higher quality creative content and offers that spark behavior. Machines understand us better than we understand ourselves, and we’re getting very good at using a combination of variables that tell us what, where and when to advertise.

ACHIEVING INCREMENTALITY

On Stage:  

  • [Moderator] Gayle deDie, SVP of Marketing, Cooler Screens  
  • Jeffrey Bustos, VP, Measurement Addressability Data, IAB  
  • Elizabeth Marsten, Vice President, Commerce Strategic Services, Tinuiti  
  • Nirish Parsad, Practice Lead of Emerging Tech, Tinuiti  

Incrementality is only the start of a conversation, but it’s the right one to have. We may not agree on the definitions or always how to measure it, but we’re finally talking about business outcomes. But it’s incomplete picture, especially in stores where so many things can happen— consumer behavior can be unpredictable if the influence is unknown and there will always be unknowns. And it’s not just the exclusive domain of retail media as attribution is now being restored to platforms like Meta and Google. 

EMPOWERING THROUGH RELEVANCE: AI + COMMERCE

On Stage:  

  • [Moderator] Anand Muralidaran, Chief Growth Officer, Cooler Screens  
  • Frank Kochenash, CEO, Omnicom Transact  
  • Jordan Berke, Founder, CEO, Tomorrow Retail Consulting  

Retail has once again proven itself resilient. With brick-and-mortar stores still commanding upwards of 85% of total retail sales, the retail media opportunity is still untapped. In this panel, leading experts on the commerce side of the equation share strategies for retailers to converge and connect with shoppers. 

SEIZING THE MOMENT: THE FUTURE OF INTELLIGENT MEDIA IS NOW

On Stage:  

  • [Moderator] Jessie Dowd, Editorial Director, Path Purchase Institute  
  • Alex Vinci, VP, Global Commerce Strategy, Publicis Media  
  • Jeremy Vianna, VP and GM Audience & Ad Products, Loblaws  
  • Rob Master, Senior Advisor, Marketing and Media Practice, McKinsey & Co.  

The retail store is the single-network, full-funnel media solution of the future, driving not only immediate sales but building brands. In this insightful panel, hear how and why unified commerce media is where the budgets will go—as well as the scrutiny on true incremental performance attribution. With so many “unicorns” in the marketplace, brands and clients need to understand the degree of internal change required to capitalize on the shift. 

DEMOCRATIZING INTELLIGENT RETAIL: THE TRIPLE WIN

On Stage:  

  • [Moderator] Tom An, Senior Director Retail Media, Microsoft  
  • Diane Shieh, Product Manager Retail Technologies, Chevron  
  • Molly Hjelm, Head of Retail Media, Dollar General  
  • Neil Stern, CEO, Good Food Holdings  

Explore the recurring theme of the “Triple Win” of AI, illustrating how synergistic benefits are created across the retail ecosystem. Consumers enjoy more relevant experiences, retailers benefit from improved inventory management and incremental sales and revenue and brands gain from targeted retail media and marketing opportunities. This trifecta underscores AI’s positive impact on all stakeholders in the retail domain.  

KEYNOTE – CREATING THE FUTURE SHAPED BY AI

On Stage: Dr. Koen Pauwels, Author Associate Dean of Research, Northeastern University  

What separates humans from machines is imagination, but intuitive AI is around the corner. AI can already do many things better than humans. Let’s not underestimate what it can enable across the entire business operation. 

CLOSING REMARKS + A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

CEO and Founder, Arsen Avakian takes the stage to close out the conference with a fast-moving overview of the day plus a special announcement.