Apple's Retail Pioneer Doubts AI Will Replace Shopping

Ron Johnson, the architect of Apple's iconic retail stores, is skeptical of Silicon Valley's push to automate shopping through AI agents. Despite tech giants like Google and OpenAI betting billions on agentic commerce, Johnson believes consumers will not delegate major purchases to machines, arguing that physical experience remains irreplaceable. Johnson, who built Apple's store network alongside Steve Jobs, says AI will make shoppers more informed but will not replace the in-store experience. He calls himself an AI optimist but insists there is no substitute for human intuition, a principle he says Jobs also held dear.