## Making Shopping More Accessible for Everyone

AI agents are transforming how people shop and find products in stores. The Home Depot's new Magic Apron assistant represents a major step forward in making shopping more accessible. Instead of just showing search results, Magic Apron has become a conversational digital companion that customers can talk to like they are speaking with an expert. Someone can describe their project—like "How do I fix a leaky faucet?"—and get not just information, but also personalized recommendations and step-by-step guidance.

What makes this especially important for accessibility is the new store experience feature. The Magic Apron now integrates with real-time store inventory information and shows customers exactly where products are located. This provides aisle-level precision, directing customers to the exact shelf bay for any item. For people who have difficulty navigating stores, struggle with finding products, or need clear guidance, this accessibility feature makes a real difference in their shopping experience.

## Helping Professional Workers Get the Tools They Need

Professional customers like contractors and remodelers now have AI tools designed specifically for their needs. The Home Depot launched an AI-powered materials list feature on its professional site that helps construction professionals quickly generate complete lists of materials they need for a job. Professionals can describe their project using voice or text, or even upload pictures, and the AI agent interprets what they need and suggests materials—even identifying items they might have forgotten.

This feature launched in beta in November 2025 and is now scaling nationally, making it accessible to pros across the country. By dramatically speeding up the estimating and planning process, these tools help professionals focus more on their actual work and bringing in new business rather than spending hours doing inventory and planning. This is a form of accessibility because it levels the playing field—both experienced and less experienced professionals can now work more efficiently.

## Store Associates Getting Better Support

Microsoft announced that agentic AI solutions are empowering store workers with better access to digital tools and assistance. Retail stores have faced big challenges with employee turnover and finding enough trained staff. Many workers simply didn't have access to the right digital tools to do their jobs well and serve customers effectively.

The new agentic AI solutions are designed to change that by providing intuitive, on-demand assistance to store employees. This means workers can quickly get the information they need to help customers better and faster. When workers have better tools and faster access to information, customers get better service. This creates a more inclusive experience where everyone—from the customer to the worker to the manager—benefits from having AI support.

## Healthcare AI Agents Supporting Medical Teams

New agentic AI technologies are making healthcare more accessible by supporting medical professionals. NXP Semiconductors announced an eIQ Agentic AI Framework that enables AI agents to work directly on medical devices without needing to connect to the internet. This is important because it means medical facilities don't have to worry about internet connectivity failures during emergencies.

GE HealthCare is using this technology in anesthesia delivery and infant monitoring systems. These AI agents can instantly alert medical staff to urgent conditions and update patient information in real time, all without relying on cloud connectivity. For healthcare workers trying to provide the best care possible, having AI agents that anticipate and prevent problems makes their jobs easier and helps them focus more on patient care rather than managing complex equipment.

## Building Public Trust in New AI Shopping Assistants

Agentic commerce is emerging as a new way for AI to help people shop, but experts are carefully watching to make sure it stays safe and fair. The UK's Information Commissioner's Office released a report highlighting how agentic AI could soon make purchases, look for sales, find financing options, and even negotiate prices with sellers. This means AI agents could do a lot of shopping activities on behalf of people.

However, experts stress that technological advancements must not come at the cost of data privacy. The ICO notes that "the public needs assurances their personal information is secure and well managed before placing their trust in agentic systems". Throughout 2026, regulators will be actively monitoring AI developers and companies to make sure they follow data protection laws. This oversight helps ensure that accessibility improvements don't mean sacrificing people's privacy and security.

## The Communication Challenge

Making AI impact clear to everyday people remains a challenge. Experts point out that while agentic AI is becoming more powerful and widespread, many people outside the technology industry don't fully understand what these systems do or how they help. AI is increasingly becoming "invisible infrastructure" that works behind the scenes in platforms and services. The value and impact of agentic AI can sometimes be hard to see because the AI is working in the background rather than being something users directly interact with.

This communication gap is important for accessibility because understanding how AI tools work helps people use them more effectively and make informed choices about whether to trust them. As agentic AI becomes more central to everyday life—in shopping, healthcare, work, and more—clear communication about how these systems work becomes essential for true accessibility and inclusion.