AI is rapidly evolving from a futuristic concept into the operational backbone of fashion and many other industries, with companies such as Ralph Lauren Corp., Levi Strauss & Co., Walmart and Lululemon Athletica deploying AI agents to design products, automate warehouses, guide shoppers and unlock billions of dollars in projected cost savings and productivity gains. At the same time, a global survey by advisory firm Teneo shows most CEOs expect AI to increase hiring rather than destroy jobs by 2026, ramping up recruitment for entry-level and technical roles while investors push for fast returns and leaders such as Arvind Krishna and Ryan Cox argue that AI is fundamentally reshaping, not erasing, the workforce.