Guardforce AI Extends Partnership with Global Sportswear Brand

Guardforce AI's smart retail solution merges AI-powered video surveillance with RFID-based inventory management. This technology aims to cut down on theft and inventory mistakes, lessen the need for manual labor, and analyze customer foot traffic to boost sales performance. The system provides retailers with performance metrics that can be compared across different store locations. This partnership expansion will see Guardforce's tech deployed in five more of the brand's Thailand stores in 2026 and another in 2027. This builds on a 2025 rollout where similar solutions were installed in two stores, and AI camera systems were set up in an additional 13 locations after a successful proof-of-concept trial. The company operates on a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) business model, which it developed to stand out from competitors who typically sell hardware and software as a complete package. This model is centered around Guardforce AI's own intelligent cloud platform, offering customers the flexibility to either buy or rent service robots that can be customized to their needs. To enhance its robotics' human-interaction capabilities, particularly in various languages like Thai, Guardforce utilizes Google Cloud's Speech-to-Text and Text-to-Speech AI technologies. Founded in 1982 as a security and logistics provider in Thailand, Guardforce AI has been pivoting to an "AI-first" strategy since 2020. While still maintaining its traditional security operations, including renewing a multi-year contract with Thailand's Government Savings Bank, the company is increasingly focused on AI and robotics. This strategic shift includes the development of an AI-powered travel planning agent and integrating AI with its RaaS offerings in Thailand. Financially, Guardforce AI reported a 3.6% revenue increase to $18.2 million for the first half of 2025, though it also recorded a net loss of $2.2 million as it invests in R&D. The company's stock (NASDAQ: GFAI) has faced challenges, receiving a notice from Nasdaq for failing to meet the $1.00 minimum bid requirement. In February 2026, the board authorized a share repurchase program of up to $5 million. The deal is set against the backdrop of a booming global retail robotics market, which was projected to grow from around $15 billion in 2022 to over $105 billion by 2029. In Thailand specifically, the AI e-commerce market is valued at approximately $5 billion, driven by increasing internet penetration and consumer demand for personalized shopping experiences powered by AI.