UK’s M&S, Microsoft sign artificial intelligence deal

Marks & Spencer signage is seen on a shop in Oxford Street, central London on June 19, 2018. Major UK retailers are increasingly facing tough times in the face of intense online competition from the likes of US giant Amazon. Clothing-to-food retailer Marks & Spencer is meanwhile shutting more than 100 UK stores as it looks to shift at least one third of sales online. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga Akmen

LONDON: Britain's Marks & Spencer has signed a strategic partnership deal with Microsoft to test the integration of artificial intelligence technologies into the retailer's stores and operations, it said on June 21.

The deal will see Microsoft's AI engineers work with M&S's engineers to examine how the technology can benefit customers and increase efficiency in its business.