AI is Transforming Retail—But Connection is the Competitive Edge: Valeria Lipovetsky at EEE Miami 2026

With 87% of retailers reporting AI has positively impacted revenue, the question isn't whether to adopt AI—it's how to use it without losing your soul. One of digital media's most influential voices is bringing answers to ecommerce's most curated conference.

The numbers are staggering: AI-enabled ecommerce is projected to reach $22.6 billion by 2032. Companies using AI personalization earn 40% more revenue than those without. AI chat is associated with 4x higher conversion rates. Global AI spending will exceed $2 trillion in 2026.

Yet here's the paradox every retail executive faces: as AI makes everything faster, smarter, and more efficient, consumers are craving something it can't replicate—genuine human connection.

Enter Valeria Lipovetsky.

The entrepreneur, creative director, and podcast host has built a community of 6.8 million followers not through algorithms, but through authenticity. And on February 5th at EEE Miami 2026, she'll share how brands can harness AI's transformative power while deepening the human connections that actually drive loyalty.

The Session Ecommerce Leaders Can't Afford to Miss

Valeria's fireside chat, "How to Leverage Digital to Lean Into Human Connection," tackles the central tension of modern retail: technology enables scale, but trust drives purchase decisions.

The session description frames it perfectly: "Digital doesn't have to feel disconnected. This session explores how brands are using community building, storytelling, and thoughtful customer touchpoints to create emotional resonance online, and why connection is the true currency of modern commerce."

She'll be joined by Michelle Cordeiro Grant, founder of LIVELY (acquired for $105M in just three years) and GORGIE, now the fastest-growing natural energy drink in the U.S. with nationwide retail distribution.

Why This Matters: The AI Opportunity is Massive—But So is the Risk

Make no mistake: AI is reshaping retail at unprecedented speed.

According to Gartner, 91% of retail IT leaders are prioritizing AI as their top technology investment through 2026. Shopify reports that 87% of retailers have seen AI positively impact revenue, while 94% have seen it reduce operating costs. The transformation is real, and it's accelerating.

AI is powering personalized product recommendations that can drive up to 31% of ecommerce revenues. It's enabling dynamic pricing, predictive inventory management, and 24/7 customer support through increasingly sophisticated chatbots. McKinsey estimates AI tools for supply chain management produce 5% to 20% in logistics savings alone.

But here's what the data also reveals: 93% of consumers still prefer human interaction. And 87% want a hybrid support model that combines human empathy with AI efficiency.

This is where Valeria's expertise becomes essential. She's built her career at the intersection of technology and authenticity—using digital platforms to create genuine connection at massive scale.

Valeria's Unique Lens: Failure, Resilience, and the Truth About Ecommerce

Valeria isn't a theorist. She's an operator who has lived the brutal realities of retail, ecommerce, and brand-building.

Through VALERIA INC., she's built a media company with a 25-person staff, partnering with over 1,000 brands including Chanel, Dior, Amazon, Lancôme, and Fendi. Her podcast "Not Alone" has surpassed 7 million streams, featuring conversations with Miranda Kerr, Jessica Alba, Jasmine Tookes, and Kelsey Merritt.

But it's her failures that make her insights so valuable for retail executives.

In a candid interview with CanvasRebel Magazine, Valeria revealed: "About a year ago, I shared that I had my first BIG failure when I decided to close my e-commerce brand." That brand evolved through multiple iterations—Leia Collection, VERIE, and finally VALERIA—selling everything from sunglasses to ready-to-wear clothing.

Her takeaway was unflinching: "It's no surprise considering that e-commerce success rates are less than 20%, not to mention the difficulty of retail manufacturing and logistics. I went into the e-commerce world VERY green."

The decision to close came from recognizing a truth that applies to AI adoption too: passion and authenticity matter more than infrastructure. "I also felt myself losing steam—losing the passion—for what we were creating. And I'd argue that is one of the most necessary elements of success, your drive to make something work."

The AI-Authenticity Balance: Valeria's Perspective

On LinkedIn, Valeria recently made a bold prediction that captures exactly where retail is headed: "Tell me I'm wrong: Influencer marketing will be the number 1 growth channel for brands in 2026."

Her reasoning illuminates the AI paradox: "'AI-fatigue' is real."

But this isn't an anti-AI stance. It's a strategic insight. As she noted in another post: "AI is reshaping creator marketing, and it's making people nervous. But I think we're scared of the wrong thing."

The implication is clear: AI is a powerful tool for efficiency, personalization, and scale—but it can't replace the trust that comes from authentic human connection. The brands winning in 2026 will be those that use AI to amplify genuine relationships, not replace them.

Her philosophy echoes what the data shows: companies using AI personalization earn 40% more revenue, but the personalization only works when it feels human. AI can analyze behavior and predict preferences, but someone has to infuse that data with empathy, storytelling, and authentic brand voice.

The Power of Community: Building What AI Can't Replicate

Valeria's success offers a blueprint for retailers navigating the AI era.

"The turning point was when I saw the power of storytelling to build communities and bring people together," she told CanvasRebel. "That's when I knew this was the path I wanted to dedicate myself to, not just as a passion, but as a professional career."

At VALERIA INC., the approach is explicit: brands don't just advertise—they become part of narratives people care about. As the company describes it: "She doesn't just feature brands—she weaves them into meaningful stories, building deep connections that make her a trusted partner."

This is what AI enables but cannot create. The technology can deliver the right message to the right person at the right time. But the message itself—the story, the authenticity, the emotional resonance—must come from human insight.

Her husband and business partner Gary Lipovetsky put it simply: "As opposed to creating content that you think people want to consume, to 'game' the system; it's just a losing battle."

The same principle applies to AI-driven personalization. Gaming the algorithm isn't a strategy. Building genuine relationships at scale is.

What Retail Executives Will Learn at EEE Miami

Valeria's session offers actionable insights for leaders grappling with AI implementation:

How to use AI for efficiency without sacrificing authenticity. The technology should handle the heavy lifting of personalization, inventory, and customer service—freeing humans to focus on the creative, emotional work that builds loyalty.

Why community is the ultimate competitive moat. AI can be copied. Technology can be replicated. But a genuine community of loyal customers who trust your brand? That's the asset that compounds over time.

The balance between scale and intimacy. Valeria has built a community of 6.8 million followers while maintaining authentic connection. The principles translate directly to retail: how do you make millions of customers feel like individuals?

Learning from failure. Her ecommerce experience taught hard lessons about the gap between ambition and execution—lessons that apply to AI implementation too.

EEE Miami: Where Serious Operators Have Real Conversations

EEE Miami 2026 is intentionally curated for exactly this kind of high-level strategic conversation. No expo floor chaos. No generic panels. Just meaningful conversations between founders, C-suite, and Director-level leaders across DTC, omnichannel, and B2B ecommerce.

The conference brings together 500 curated executives at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne on February 4-5. With 70% of attendees being merchants rather than vendors, it's designed for peer-level learning that drives real strategic shifts.

Valeria's session is scheduled for 11:00 AM on February 5th—a fireside format that promises the candid, unfiltered conversation that has made her "Not Alone" podcast so successful.

The Bottom Line: AI + Authenticity = The Winning Formula

The retail leaders who thrive in 2026 won't be those who adopt AI fastest. They'll be those who use AI most strategically—amplifying authentic human connection rather than replacing it.

Valeria Lipovetsky has built a 6.8 million-strong community by understanding this balance intuitively. At EEE Miami, she'll share how ecommerce executives can do the same.

As she put it on LinkedIn: "Products are replaceable. People are not. When brands are driven by people, products become irreplaceable."

In an era where AI can personalize everything, the brands that win will be those that use technology to make customers feel genuinely known—not just algorithmically targeted. Valeria's session offers a roadmap for exactly that.

EEE Miami 2026

February 4, 2026 at 9:00 AM – February 5, 2026 at 5:00 PMMiami, FL

Register Now

EEE Miami 2026 takes place February 4-5 at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne. For tickets and more information, visit eeemiami.com.

The Retail AI Council is a retailer-built, retailer-led organization with over 400 members focused on practical AI implementation in retail. Learn more at retailaicouncil.com.

About Valeria Lipovetsky

Valeria Lipovetsky is a purpose-driven entrepreneur, creative director, and podcast host with over 6.8 million followers across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. As founder of VALERIA INC. and the "Not Alone" podcast (7M+ streams), she has partnered with more than 1,000 brands including Chanel, Dior, Amazon, and Lancôme. She is also the founder of Creator Method, an academy and community for emerging content creators. Follow her on Instagram at @valerialipovetsky and listen to "Not Alone" at notalonepod.com.