Pick n Pay has introduced Penny, an AI shopping assistant powered by Gemini, to its asap! app. Penny interacts with users through conversation to help build their shopping baskets.

Pick n Pay has launched an AI assistant as part of its strategy to reclaim market share from the Checkers Sixty60 app. Meanwhile, Woolworths is expanding its operations with the addition of another 'dark store'.

Rival retailers are leveraging Takealot's technology, which has resulted in significant business growth. According to The Citizen Business, revenue from 'fulfilment services' has nearly doubled within a year, indicating a highly profitable trend in the sector.

South Africa's Yoco is expanding its services beyond payment processing through a new artificial intelligence deal. This development is part of a broader discussion that includes the Central Bank of Nigeria's data localisation rule, which has raised concerns within the fintech sector, and Visa's plans to integrate AI for shopping with cards in South Africa, according to Techpoint Africa.

Investec, a dual-listed lender, is implementing Microsoft’s AI assistant for all employees in South Africa and the UK. This initiative aims to enhance productivity and streamline operations across the organization.

Woolworths is set to implement changes to its rewards programme, prompting questions about whether customer loyalty is genuinely being rewarded or manipulated. The specifics of the changes have not been detailed, but they aim to enhance the customer experience and engagement with the brand.