Target names Chandhu Nair as first chief AI officer, also promoting Purvi Shah to senior VP of UX; Nair says AI's 'most meaningful stories' will be on the front line

Target has made significant leadership changes by appointing Chandhu Nair as its first chief AI officer and promoting Purvi Shah to senior VP of UX. Nair, who previously served as senior VP of stores, data, AI, and innovation, aims to implement a more coordinated approach to AI across the company.¹²³⁴

Nair stated, "The most meaningful AI stories won't be about what happens in a lab. They'll be about what happens on the front line – how we make shopping easier for a guest, give a team member a better tool, make a business decision with more confidence or bring a new idea to market faster." This focus on practical applications of AI is crucial as Target seeks to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.

The company is also leveraging AI tools like Target Trend Brain to anticipate trends and improve inventory management. Nair emphasized that the goal is to integrate AI into existing strengths rather than create a separate strategy, stating, “We should begin with the outcomes we want and focus the technology where it can make the biggest difference.”⁶

Purvi Shah echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of human-centered design in UX, stating, “Our role is to shape not only what people see, but the systems and decisions behind it to ensure each experience is as easy, inspiring and valuable as it can be.” Together, Nair and Shah's leadership is expected to drive Target's growth and improve the guest experience.

The measure of success, according to Nair, will not be the volume of AI deployed but the impact on Target's growth, guest experience, and team performance.