Retail Salespersons
Also called: shop, assistant, sales, retail, car salesman
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing retail salespersons work
4 of 14 main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Amber (some AI use) — 29% when main tasks are weighted. This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Greet customers and find out what each customer wants or needs (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Describe merchandise and explain use, operation, and care of merchandise to customers (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Prepare merchandise for purchase or rental (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Demonstrate use or operation of merchandise (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Ticket, arrange, and display merchandise to promote sales (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Inventory stock and requisition new stock (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Exchange merchandise for customers and accept returns (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Watch for and recognize security risks and thefts and know how to prevent or handle these situations (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Place special orders or call other stores to find desired items (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Clean shelves, counters, and tables (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Maintain records related to sales — no recorded AI use
- Open and close cash registers, performing tasks such as counting money, separating charge slips, coupons, and vouchers, balancing cash drawers, and making deposits — no recorded AI use
- Prepare sales slips or sales contracts — no recorded AI use
- Estimate and quote trade-in allowances — no recorded AI use
- Bag or package purchases and wrap gifts — no recorded AI use
- Help customers try on or fit merchandise — no recorded AI use
- Sell or arrange for delivery, insurance, financing, or service contracts for merchandise — no recorded AI use
- Estimate quantity and cost of merchandise required — no recorded AI use
- Rent merchandise to customers — no recorded AI use
- Estimate cost of repair or alteration of merchandise — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise”. Try the prompt for: “Greet customers and find out what each customer wants or needs”.
- Weeks 3–4: Make it a habit. Use AI 3 times a week for 15 minutes. Always check facts, numbers and names yourself.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and retail salespersons
Will AI replace retail salespersons?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 4 of the 14 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Amber rating (some AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 20 of the 24 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which shop tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: answer questions regarding the store and its merchandise; greet customers and find out what each customer wants or needs; recommend, select, and help locate or obtain merchandise based on customer needs and desires.
Which shop tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: compute sales prices, total purchases, and receive and process cash or credit payment; prepare merchandise for purchase or rental; maintain knowledge of current sales and promotions, policies regarding payment and exchanges, and security practices. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 88% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a shop start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.