Carrefour has deployed its generative AI assistant to 125,000 staff members in eight countries.
The French multinational retailer currently has a multi-format network of more than 14,000 stores across 40 countries, with a total of 500,000 people working for the brand worldwide.
The company’s group chief technology officer Olivier Gibert said that the conversational agent, which is powered by Google’s Gemini, simplifies daily work, frees up operational time, and brings AI directly to teams on the ground.
“Not a tech showcase — a practical tool built to meet real business needs,” he wrote on LinkedIn. “Each launch — in Spain, Poland, Romania and beyond — was a chance to connect with local teams, refine use cases, and measure impact, right where it matters.”
Gibert added that the business had already received feedback on the tool, having been described by employees as “fast, useful, and intuitive.”
“Simple words,” he continued. “But they say a lot. Because AI only matters if it’s adopted, understood, and used to deliver value. This is just the beginning.”
The move is the latest AI-driven project by the retailer, with the company last month revealing it was trialling a new AI tech platform at one of its French hypermarkets to support a “new generation” of connected stores.
The platform, developed by VusionGroup, combines intelligent track systems, computer vision, AI, electronic shelf labels and ultra-accurate data to help improve the in-store customer and employee experience.
Carrefour said at the time that the new technology will turn its stores into “intelligent media platforms” capable of interacting with customers in real-time during their shopping journey.
The company also recently opened its third AI-powered BuyBye store at the NATO SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) base in Casteau, near Mons, Belgium.
The new store uses AI-powered autonomous “grab-and-go” technology which allows customers to buy products without checking out, with items being charged automatically.
The store’s technology is equipped with artificial vision cameras and weight sensors to track inventory in real time.
