Businesses Seek AI Solutions to Manage Uncertainty from Trump Tariffs
Artificial intelligence robot looking at futuristic digital data display. Yuichiro Chino | Moment | Getty Images
Businesses are turning to artificial intelligence tools to help them navigate real-world turbulence in global trade. Several tech firms have indicated that they are deploying this emerging technology to visualize businesses’ global supply chains — from the materials used to create products to the origins of those goods — and understand how they are affected by reciprocal tariffs.
Last week, Salesforce announced it has developed a new import specialist AI agent that can “instantly process changes for all 20,000 product categories in the U.S. customs system and then take action on them” as necessary, aiding navigation through variations in tariff systems. Engineers at the software giant utilized the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, a 4,400-page document detailing tariffs on goods imported to the U.S., to inform the agent’s responses.
“The sheer pace and complexity of global tariff changes make it nearly impossible for most businesses to keep up manually,” Eric Loeb, executive vice president of government affairs at Salesforce, explained. “In the past, companies might have relied on small teams of in-house experts to keep pace.” Firms report that AI systems enable them to make decisions about adjustments to their global supply chains much more rapidly.
Andrew Bell, chief product officer of supply chain management software firm Kinaxis, mentioned that manufacturers and distributors need to inform their responses to tariffs and are utilizing the company’s machine learning technology to assess their products, materials, and external signals such as news articles and macroeconomic data. “With that information, we can start doing simulations of a particular part in your build material that carries a significant tariff. If you switched to a different part instead, what would the overall impact be?” Bell explained.
Trump’s tariffs list—which encompasses numerous countries—has compelled companies to reassess their supply chains and pricing strategies, leading some brands to increase prices on certain products. The U.S. imported approximately $3.3 trillion of goods in 2024, according to census data.
Uncertainty stemming from U.S. tariff measures “actually probably presents AI’s moment to shine,” Zack Kass, a futurist, remarked recently. “If you wonder how difficult things could get without AI and automation, and what would happen when you can’t just hire a lot of people overnight, AI offers a viable alternative.”
Nagendra Bandaru, managing partner and global head of technology services at Wipro, indicated that clients are using the company’s AI solutions to pivot supplier strategies, adjust trade lanes, and manage duty exposure dynamically as policy landscapes evolve. Wipro employs various AI systems — both proprietary and sourced from third parties — including large language models and traditional machine learning techniques to inspect physical assets in cross-border transit.
While keeping company names confidential, Wipro stated that firms using its AI products to navigate tariffs range from a Fortune 500 electronics manufacturer with factories in Asia to an automotive parts supplier exporting to Europe and North America. “AI is a powerful enabler — but not a silver bullet,” Bandaru noted. “It doesn’t replace trade policy strategy; it enhances it by transforming global trade from a reactive challenge into a proactive, data-driven advantage.”
Prior to the tariff announcements in April, AI was already a key investment priority for global firms. Nearly three-quarters of business leaders ranked AI and generative AI among their top three technology investment priorities for 2025, according to a report by Capgemini released in January. “There are many ways AI can assist companies with tariffs and resulting uncertainty. But any AI solution’s success will depend on the quality of the data it can access,” Ajay Agarwal, partner at Bain Capital Ventures, remarked.
Agarwal mentioned that one of his portfolio companies uses supply chain network data with AI to help firms understand the logistics impacts of changing suppliers due to tariffs. “They are collaborating with several Fortune 500 companies to provide visibility and intelligence through their systems,” he added. “Switching suppliers may reduce tariff costs, but might lead to increased lead times and transportation costs. Moreover, the volatility of tariffs has significantly affected rates and capacity in both ocean and domestic freight networks.”
