A Ukrainian woman developed SenseAI technology to analyze customer reactions in stores
2 April 19:43
Ukrainian developer Yevgeniya Schneider has created the SenseAI system, which allows brands to analyze customer reactions to products directly in physical stores—without collecting personal data. This was reported by Dev , as cited by "Komersant Ukrainian".
The technology has already attracted the attention of major retailers. In particular, the international cosmetics chain
is preparing documents for pilot testing of the technology in various countries.
How the technology works
SenseAI is a small device that is installed directly on the shelf next to the product.
The module:
- integrates into the shelf design so as not to disrupt the store’s visual appearance;
- uses Edge AI technology for data processing;
- captures shoppers’ emotional reactions or comments as they interact with the product.
After processing, the system converts the signal into an anonymous mathematical tag.
For example:
- “too strong a scent”;
- “suitable for the office.”
Importantly, the audio is not stored—the sound is deleted immediately after analysis.
The principle of “cultural privacy”
The developer, Yevgeniya Schneider, calls this approach “cultural privacy.”
The system is built on the principle of Privacy-by-Architecture—meaning the technology’s architecture physically prevents the storage of personal data.
According to the developer, the main goal is to analyze the reason behind the buyer’s decision, not the buyer’s identity.
“The most valuable insight isn’t the buyer’s identity, but the reason behind their decision,” she explains.
How this can benefit businesses
According to the developer’s projections, using SenseAI can:
- reduce the volume of unsold goods disposed of by 18–27%;
- enable brands to adjust products or their product range more quickly;
- potentially save the industry over $12 billion annually.
In her view, traditional Big Data systems in physical retail often generate an excess of information that is difficult to put into practice.
AI and New Technologies in Retail
The retail market is actively adopting artificial intelligence technologies.
For example, Ukrainian online retailer Makeup previously launched Sofi, a digital consultant that helps customers choose cosmetics.
A Deloitte study also shows that nearly one in three Ukrainians makes purchases after reading reviews, and one in five searches for products on TikTok.
Therefore, technologies that allow brands to capture real-time customer reactions in-store could become a new tool for brands.
