Chandhu Nair Joins Target as Chief AI Officer

Target has appointed Chandhu Nair as Chief AI Officer, bringing new leadership to the retailer's efforts to explore and scale artificial intelligence across its enterprise.

Chandhu shared the move on LinkedIn, highlighting the opportunity to apply AI where it can have a tangible impact on retail, from improving guest experiences and supporting team members to simplifying work and making the broader enterprise more intelligent.

Putting AI to Work Across Retail

As Chief AI Officer, Chandhu will work with Target's technology and leadership teams to explore how AI can be applied across the company's operations and customer experience.

His approach centers on the idea that the success of AI in retail should ultimately be measured by its impact on people rather than simply by the sophistication of the underlying technology.

That means looking at how AI can improve the experience for guests, give team members better tools, simplify complex processes and help the organization make faster, smarter decisions.

Technology With the Store at the Center

Reflecting on his new role, Chandhu shared a personal experience from a visit to Target's SoHo store in New York with his sons.

The experience reinforced his view that some of the most meaningful technology opportunities in retail emerge from real-world interactions in stores rather than from technology discussions in conference rooms.

For Target, this perspective is particularly relevant as retailers look to connect AI capabilities with the physical and digital experiences that define modern commerce.

Building on Target's Technology and Brand

Target enters this next phase with an established technology organization and a strong consumer brand.

Chandhu described the company as having a distinctive ability to bring together design, technology and human experience, creating an environment where AI can be explored not simply as a technology initiative but as part of the broader customer and employee experience.

He will work closely with Prat Vemana, Target's technology leadership and the broader executive team as the company evaluates new opportunities for AI across the business.

Keeping People at the Center

One of the central themes of Chandhu's approach is that AI transformation should remain grounded in human outcomes.

For retail organizations, that could mean using AI to reduce operational friction, support employees with better information, improve personalization and make everyday interactions more useful for customers.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded across retail, the challenge for technology leaders will be balancing innovation with practical execution and ensuring that new capabilities translate into meaningful business value.

Looking Ahead

Chandhu's appointment comes as retailers across the industry move toward a more integrated approach to AI, connecting technology with merchandising, operations, customer experience and workforce productivity.

At Target, his focus will be on helping explore what is possible while ensuring that AI remains connected to the people and experiences at the heart of the business.

As he put it, the impact of AI will ultimately be measured "on the frontlines" rather than by models and benchmarks alone.

About Target

Target Corporation is a major American retail company operating stores and digital channels across the United States. The company offers a broad range of merchandise spanning essentials, apparel, home, beauty, food and other consumer categories, supported by a combination of physical stores, digital commerce and technology-enabled fulfillment.