Vusion & Qualcomm unveil AI-native vision for retail

Vusion and Qualcomm Technologies have set out a joint vision for what they call an "AI-native store" - a retail model built around Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) infrastructure, intelligent shelf systems, spatial signals and on-device AI.

In a jointly developed white paper, "The AI-Native StoreTM: The New Operating System for Physical Commerce", they outline how stores could use signals from connected devices and in-store sensors for day-to-day operations and in-aisle shopper interactions.

Infrastructure shift

The paper argues that retailers face an infrastructure choice as more consumer devices rely on BLE. It points to smartphones, earbuds, wearables and smart glasses as examples of BLE-native devices shoppers already carry in stores.

It also suggests that stores without BLE and shelf-edge systems will struggle to interact with shoppers in real time. A lack of BLE-based infrastructure, it adds, can keep retailers tied to older operating models that respond more slowly to in-store conditions.

The companies describe the AI-native store as a way to connect what happens in the aisle with store execution. The model centres on shelf-edge hardware and sensing, paired with on-device AI at the edge, so stores interpret signals locally rather than relying solely on centralised processing.

Operational claims

Vusion and Qualcomm Technologies highlight several areas where they say AI-native stores could improve performance, including on-shelf availability and "double-digit improvements in shelf condition". They also cite faster, more accurate picking for local eCommerce.

Labour efficiency is another focus, with a claim of "60-90 minutes of associate time saved per shift" by changing how store teams find products, manage shelf conditions and execute tasks.

For shoppers, the paper points to "clearer, more confident shopper decision-making in the aisle", linking this to in-store guidance and real-time support as customers move through departments and bays.

The paper also covers retail media and measurement, claiming "deterministic, closed-loop retail media attribution". It positions in-aisle signals and shelf-edge intelligence as a way to connect engagement with outcomes.

On financial impact, the companies cite "up to 1.5-2 points of operating margin upside", attributing this to better availability, improved shelf conditions and labour savings.

Edge AI focus

The white paper emphasises edge computing and on-device AI over cloud-only processing. It describes a store environment where sensors and devices handle more intelligence locally to improve responsiveness in day-to-day operations and interactions.

Art Miller, VP and global head of retail at Qualcomm Technologies, framed the shift as part of a broader move towards edge-based computing in everyday settings.

"AI at the edge will transform everyday environments and retail is leading the way. The next era of intelligent computing happens at the edge, on the devices and sensors we use every day. Retail is one of the industries best positioned to benefit from this shift. Together with Vusion, we are empowering stores to run AI natively, unlocking new levels of responsiveness and enabling richer interactions between stores, associates and shoppers. BLE and on-device AI will be central to this transformation."

Store systems

The paper positions BLE as a baseline layer, describing it as a global connectivity standard embedded in billions of consumer devices and suited to in-aisle interaction.

Vusion's role centres on intelligent shelves and related store infrastructure. Qualcomm Technologies focuses on on-device AI and edge processing, which it says can work with in-store sensors and devices.

Thierry Gadou, chairman and CEO at Vusion, linked the concept to store economics and to how associates and shoppers navigate physical retail.

"AI-native storesTM reshape the economics and the experience of physical commerce. They mark the next decade of retail transformation, giving associates the clarity and guidance they need, while helping shoppers make better decisions. BLE connectivity, EdgeSense intelligence and on-device AI create stores that are not just more connected, but more efficient, more interactive, and more profitable. With Qualcomm, we are bringing AI into physical commerce, making the store itself intelligent, responsive, and continuously improving."

Vusion and Qualcomm Technologies describe their approach as an open, scalable retail infrastructure built for AI-native experiences. They position the store as a connected environment in which shelf-edge systems and shopper devices generate a continuous stream of signals that can be processed locally.

The white paper argues that BLE-native infrastructure and in-store intelligence will become more important as retailers expand local eCommerce fulfilment and invest in retail media networks, with measurement more directly tied to in-store actions and outcomes.