{"id":10430,"date":"2025-11-21T11:48:57","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T16:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/taggstar.com\/us\/?p=10430"},"modified":"2025-11-21T11:48:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T16:48:57","slug":"ai-proof-points-a-conversation-with-dora-moldovan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/taggstar.com\/us\/blog\/ai-proof-points-a-conversation-with-dora-moldovan\/","title":{"rendered":"AI Proof Points: A conversation with Dora Moldovan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming nearly every industry.  Retail is no exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AI<\/em> Proof Points: a conversation with…<\/em><\/strong> is a new series that spotlights candid conversations with industry experts on all things AI and commerce. We’ll explore how AI, data, and social proof are rewriting the rules of modern commerce from discovery and personalization to decision-making and conversion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

AI Is Reshaping Retail and eCommerce: it’s all about the data<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"This<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

To kick off the AI Proof Point series, we recently sat down with Dora Moldovan<\/a><\/strong>, Chief AI Officer at Tomorrow Group<\/a><\/strong> and founder of Braidr<\/a><\/strong>, a Global Data and AI Consultancy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a background in computer science and decades of experience leading data-driven innovation, Dora has been following AI\u2019s evolution from the early 2000s \u2014 long before ChatGPT was a household name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, is Dora\u2019s take on the pace of AI adoption, what\u2019s next for Agentic Commerce, and why the future of retail will belong to those who master their data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Q: You worked in AI long before it became mainstream. How did you first get started in the field?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dora Moldovan:<\/strong> I studied computer science back in 2002 \u2014 the \u201cold ages,\u201d as I like to call them. My university had two really in-depth AI courses, and I was completely hooked. I loved learning how agents could mimic human behavior. It felt like science fiction come to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I even did my dissertation in AI, but back then, there wasn\u2019t enough data or infrastructure to do much with it. So, I went into web development, then software engineering, and later built a data science team. Eventually, I launched Braidr<\/strong>, a Global Data and AI Consultancy. Today, as Chief AI Officer across the Tomorrow Group, I focus on driving AI adoption, how the agency shapes its services and how the industry perceives what we are doing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Q: How do you use AI personally in your day-to-day work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Moldovan:<\/strong> I don\u2019t code anymore (if I did, I would use Claude), but I use AI every day. ChatGPT helps me shape ideas and structure presentations. But my favorite app right now is Gamma<\/a><\/strong>, which builds presentations from prompts. It\u2019s reduced the time I spend creating slides by at least 70%. It\u2019s fantastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Q: Which industries are leading in AI adoption?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Moldovan:<\/strong> It depends on two things: data maturity and leadership buy-in. Tech and finance are always ahead because they have strong data foundations and clear ROI models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ecommerce is catching up quickly for the same reason. It\u2019s data-rich, well-structured and measurable. By contrast, heavily regulated industries such as healthcare and government are more cautious about AI adoption. AI thrives in spaces where data is clean and leaders are willing to experiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Q: Where would you place retail and eCommerce on that adoption curve?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Moldovan:<\/strong> Somewhere in the middle, but moving fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

We\u2019ve seen retailers use AI for years in personalization, recommendations, and forecasting. Amazon\u2019s been doing it forever. But what\u2019s new is the scale and sophistication. AI is now running everything from merchandising planning to backend logistics to creative asset generation. But the next wave of AI adoption goes far beyond chatbots, recommendation engines and personalisation as we know it today.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Person<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re entering the age of Agentic Commerce, where consumers will not just search for products, but actually shop directly inside LLMs. That\u2019s a huge shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Q: Where are retailers seeing the quickest ROI from AI?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Moldovan:<\/strong> Right now, the clearest ROI is in media buying and merchandising platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tasks that used to be extremely time-consuming and resource-intensive, such as creating and managing product feeds, are being automated. Meta even announced it\u2019s aiming to fully automate advertising by 2026, from creative generation to campaign performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, AI will make marketing cheaper, faster, and smarter. The opportunity is massive if you have the right data infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Q: Speaking of data, you\u2019ve said retailers need to rethink how they structure their data. What do you mean by that?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Moldovan:<\/strong> We\u2019re entering an era of Generative Engine Optimization or SEO for LLMs, if you will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When consumers start shopping through AI assistants, those assistants rely on structured data rather than just web pages or traditional product feeds. That means your product feed and metadata matter more than ever. Retailers need to make sure their data is rich, well-structured, and retrievable by AI systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally, you worried about your website\u2019s look and content. Now you have to care just as much about your product feed, because that\u2019s how LLMs understand and recommend your products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cRetailers that feed more accurate, well-structured data will win visibility in LLMs.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Q: So first-party data becomes the differentiator?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Moldovan:<\/strong> Exactly. Retailers like ASOS or Selfridges may sell similar products, but what sets them apart is f<\/strong>irst-party data \u2014 who buys what, how often, and why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s gold. And it can now be baked directly into product feeds. LLMs don\u2019t limit how many attributes you can include, so retailers can add behavioral data: \u201cpreferred by Gen Z,\u201d \u201cbought frequently by repeat customers,\u201d \u201ctrending in the Northeast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s powerful context that no one else has, and it\u2019s what will help retailers stand out in AI-driven shopping environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Q: How does social proof fit into that equation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Moldovan:<\/strong> Social proof<\/a> is part of that first-party data story. It\u2019s what gives your claims credibility. If an AI model sees that verified customers consistently buy or recommend a product, that becomes a trust signal. Retailers who can feed those signals into product data will have a huge advantage, because AI systems will surface their products as \u201cbest fit\u201d results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\u201cAI can only move at the speed of your data quality. 2026 should start with a data audit \u2014 product feeds, attributes, images, everything.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Q: Will Agentic Commerce really take off?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"This<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Moldovan:<\/strong> I think so, and faster than people expect. Look how quickly users adopted ChatGPT for search. OpenAI already has partnerships with PayPal, Shopify, Walmart, and Etsy, and it’s launched Agentic Commerce protocols so anyone can plug into its ecosystem. It\u2019s moving quickly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sure, for big purchases or experiences, people will still want to buy from eCommerce sites and stores. But for everyday products, LLMs and AI shopping will be the fastest route. Amazon is already building its own AI shopping agent with Anthropic. Walmart\u2019s doing the same. 2026 will be a big year for this shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Q: If you could give retailers one piece of advice, what would it be?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Moldovan:<\/strong> Start with your data. Audit your product information, clean up your feeds, enrich your attributes, improve your imagery and make sure it\u2019s all structured and consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, start optimizing for how AI systems interpret and retrieve that information. Partner with platforms that can help you surface your products in LLMs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no excuse anymore for bad data or incomplete product info. AI can help you fix it, but it can\u2019t work miracles if you feed it bad data. The retailers and brands that do that first will be the ones leading the next wave of eCommerce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n