Fox Business | 11:00 08-12-2025 | Finance
The increasing prevalence of AI automation in the retail sector could result in the replacement of a significant proportion of seasonal workers. This aligns with estimates suggesting that 20% to 30% of workers involved in retail returns processing could be supplanted by sophisticated AI systems, as businesses strive for superior efficiency.
Adoption of artificial intelligence automation offers advantages in terms of speed and precision, which could significantly enhance the effectiveness of retail operations. This is particularly attractive for companies that experience sharp increases in return activity during peak seasons, and consequently need to engage seasonal workers to manage the load.
However, replacing human workers with automation also represents the loss of employment opportunities, particularly for individuals who rely on seasonal work. While the process increases business efficiency, it is equally important to consider the social impact of this shift towards AI-driven systems in retail.
Overall, the rise of AI automation in the retail returns processing domain is seemingly inevitable given the benefits of increased speed and accuracy. However, these advancements could also lead to significant job losses for seasonal workers, sparking a larger conversation about the societal implications of widespread automation.