The Week In News, But Shorter
February 9 – 15, 2026

A Weekly PropTech Newsletter bringing you industry updates from across the real estate spectrum

Because of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday in the U.S., we’re sending today rather than our traditional Monday delivery. We appreciate our readers worldwide for rolling with the shift. On to this week’s contet:

Target’s recent announcement that it will pilot contextual ads in ChatGPT is a clear sign that where brands buy visibility is about to change, despite how consumers (or competitors) feel about it. We’ve talked about how AI will reshape the customer journey, but the addition of ads (something that was inevitable, but still new at this point,) adds another consideration for mall property owners. As retailers test moving ad dollars into AI platforms, some traditional spend may be at risk. AI placements promise highly targeted, measurable reach, and that performance-driven appeal can pull budgets away from property-level programs. Property owners can fight back however by reshaping offerings around measurable omnichannel outcomes, forging data-driven partnerships, or negotiating integrated or exclusive spots in AI channels. Have you looked at your marketing recently? Can we help? Let’s chat!

This week we were also intrigued to read about how AI was helping reduce security incidents, what both Gen Alpha and Gen Z mean for the mall, and how one major mall is turning their parking lot into revenue in a new way. Did you catch our LinkedIn post last week? Give it a like, or better yet, share it with your network too!

Digital Meets Physical

Target to test contextual ads in ChatGPT, including through Roundel [RetailDive] Target will be among the first advertisers to pilot contextual ads in OpenAI’s popular ChatGPT program starting this month. The retailer will run ads promoting both its own business and those of brand partners on its Roundel retail media network.

The Friday Checkout: Albertsons turns to cart trackers to prove in-store retail media [GroceryDive] Who needs a pricey smart cart when you can put a tracking device on traditional shopping baskets and carts? That’s exactly what Albertsons is doing in an 80-store pilot that monitors where customers go in stores. It wants to see how long customers stop in front of in-store retail media displays.

How AI commerce threatens eBay, Amazon [RetailDive] For marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, the large language models that are moving swiftly into agentic commerce are potentially disruptive to their model.

White Castle reduces store security incidents in AI pilot [Chain Store Age] White Castle piloted the AI-equipped Interface Virtual Perimeter Guard exterior security solution at a location that had been experiencing after-hours security challenges. Within the first 30 days of deployment, 91% of perimeter security events were resolved automatically through AI detection and live voice.

Google makes Etsy and Wayfair items shoppable within agentic AI search [RetailBrew] Google is rolling out its new set of agentic AI tools, launched just last month, to third-party e-commerce platforms. Its Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) will now let people buy items from online marketplaces Etsy and Wayfair without ever leaving Google.

Thrive Market’s Amina Pasha believes brands that focus on trust will win in an AI-first world [ModernRetail] Artificial intelligence is reshaping so many aspects of marketing, from creative generation to developing hyper-targeted campaigns.

PropTalk

Mall of America launches long-term, overnight parking program for travelers [Chain Store Age] Mall of America is launching “Park | Shop | Fly,” a new long-term and overnight parking program designed to offer travelers and guests a “secure, convenient and cost-effective” alternative to traditional airport parking.

Samsung Enters the Commercial HVAC Race [Propmodo] Samsung has a history of starting in consumer markets and methodically expanding into enterprise territory. Now, that same playbook is coming to commercial real estate with the recent launch of SmartThings Pro, a commercial building management platform that could reshape how smaller properties think about technology.

Placer.ai: Returns help boost mall visits in January [Chain Store Age] Placer.ai found that mall traffic was heavily front-loaded to the first two weeks of the year, consistent with the post-holiday returns window. The final week of January saw a more pronounced decline in traffic due to the impact of Winter Storm Fern.

Gen Alpha loves brick-and-mortar retail. Here’s what they want when they shop.[Retail Brew] The generation craves in-person retail experiences much like Gen Z, but their experience growing up in virtual worlds have created unique expectations for in-store shopping.

Saks Global to shutter 9 full-line stores [RetailDive] Saks Fifth Avenue is taking the brunt of the plans, with eight stores on the list. The company told a bankruptcy court further closures may be necessary.

Gen Z is nostalgic for 2016 amid economic unease. Mall brands like Abercrombie & Fitch may see a revival [CNBC] Gen Z is romanticizing 2016, a period many associate with a stronger economy and lighter cultural mood. Experts say nostalgia is functioning as a form of risk aversion, as consumers gravitate toward brands that feel familiar amid economic uncertainty.

Fashion Briefing: At NYFW, fashion brands are embracing department stores — even the embattled Saks Global [Glossy] The American department store’s reputation has taken a beating in the last year. The high-profile bankruptcy of Saks Global, along with struggling foot traffic at department stores like Neiman Marcus, has made the prospect of wholesale via this channel a tougher sell.

Copley Place to fill Neiman Marcus space with restaurants, luxury boutiques [Chain Store Age] Simon Property Group has announced plans for a redevelopment of the current Neiman Marcus space at Copley Place, the mixed-use property located in the city’s affluent Back Bay neighborhood.