Shoptalk 2026: AI, Agentic Commerce & Retail Media’s Next Power Shift

I’m coming to you live from Shoptalk 2026 in Las Vegas, and this ep is packed with rapid-fire insights straight from the show floor. I pulled together six of the smartest voices in retail media to break down what’s actually happening right now beyond the buzzwords. From agentic commerce debates to Meta’s push into in-store data, we’re unpacking the trends that could reshape how brands and retailers work together.

We dig into the following: Is AI really going to change how we shop? Why are retailers expanding into offsite media in a more controlled way? And what role does content, especially video, play in the next phase of commerce? If you want a pulse check on where retail media is heading in 2026, this is one you don't want to miss.

This episode is sponsored by Mirakl Ads

Timeline

[00:00] – Live from Shoptalk: rapid-fire industry insights straight from the show floor

[01:00] – The agentic commerce debate: will consumers really hand shopping over to AI?

[02:30] – Meta’s new in-store data play and the shift toward full-funnel performance metrics

[04:45] – Retailers moving offsite: why controlled expansion is the new strategy

[06:45] – Innovation overload: how commerce media is evolving across industries

[07:15] – Why content, not hype, is the key to making agentic commerce actually work

[08:45] – Retail media’s identity shift: from monetization channel to growth driver

Links & Resources

• Follow Kathryn Lundstrom, Commerce and Sustainability Editor @ ADWEEK, on LinkedIn
• Follow Alex R. Arnott, Sr. Director of Retail Media Monetization @ dentsu, on LinkedIn
• Follow Tom Limongello, Host @ The Middlemen Podcast, on LinkedIn
• Follow Saket Mehta, Chief Revenue Officer @ Nift, on LinkedIn
• Follow Leah Logan, Growth Marketing @ Inmar Intellingence, on LinkedIn
• Follow Derek T. Nelson, Sr. Director, Measurement & Retail Media Consulting @ Ovative Group, on LinkedIn
• Read my related articles:
  • Five Ad Servers, Four Takeaways, and One Thread That Tied RampUp Together
  • "We're All Holding Our Breath"
  • ‘Dark Search’ Is Making AI-Facilitated Commerce Look Smaller Than It Really Is
• Atlanta-based retail media professionals: Wednesday, April 1 is the next In-Person Atlanta Happy Hour! RSVP here.
• Subscribe to Retail Media Breakfast Club's daily newsletter
• Follow Kiri Masters on LinkedIn