Large companies have scale, but scale can also make change difficult. This year’s enterprise-size honorees show what happens when established organizations use new technology to rethink core operations, from hiring tens of thousands of workers to managing sprawling retail networks. Their innovations are notable not just for what they do but for how widely they can be deployed.
Albertsons Companies
For putting AI to work across the grocery business
Rather than deploy AI through isolated pilots, grocery giant Albertsons Companies has built a unified data and AI platform that connects operations across its stores, supply chain, corporate functions, and digital channels. The system is being used to improve demand forecasting and inventory management, optimize promotions and product assortments, and power more personalized digital shopping tools. Albertsons has also introduced AI tools for employees to reduce repetitive work and to help associates make faster decisions. The company says these efforts are contributing to a multibillion-dollar productivity target.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
For using AI to speed up restaurant hiring
Chipotle partnered with Paradox to build Ava Cado, an AI-powered hiring assistant that guides restaurant applicants from initial application through interview scheduling and offer. The mobile-first system answers questions, collects candidate information, coordinates interviews, and sends offers around the clock, including during the roughly 30% of interactions that occur outside normal business hours. Since its launch, Chipotle says the average time from application to start date has fallen from 12 days to four, while application completion rates have climbed from about 50% to nearly 88%. Applicant flow has nearly doubled, and 96% of offers are accepted.
The companies and individuals behind these technologies are among the honorees in Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech awards for 2026. Read more about the winners across all categories and the methodology behind the selection process.
