News/Retail
Kentucky distillery takes its shot at AI, uses 1,500 sensors to automate bourbon production
Whiskey House, a new Kentucky distillery founded by bourbon industry veterans David Mandell and John Hargrove, has launched as a fully automated, technology-driven contract distilling operation amid widespread turmoil in the American whiskey market. The facility represents a dramatic departure from traditional whiskey-making methods, using advanced sensors, real-time analytics, and predictive control systems to address quality inconsistencies that plague the industry while serving the growing demand from non-distiller producer brands. The big picture: The American whiskey industry is experiencing significant upheaval, with major brands seeing declining sales and several companies filing for bankruptcy, yet Whiskey House sees opportunity in the...
read Oct 17, 2025Asus launches first GB10 Superchip desktop at $4.1K while Dell’s remains unavailable
Asus has launched the Ascent GX10, becoming the first company to bring Nvidia's GB10 Superchip to market in a compact AI desktop form factor, beating Dell's similar but unavailable Pro Max GB10 to retail availability. The $4,100 system delivers up to one petaflop of computing power in a package small enough for individual workstations, bringing data center-level AI capabilities to researchers and developers who previously needed access to large server clusters. What you should know: The Ascent GX10 is currently available for immediate purchase while competing systems remain in pre-order status. Asus's system can be ordered now from Viperatech for...
read Oct 17, 2025AI and robots go to White Castle in new Ohio prototype restaurant
White Castle has unveiled its "Castle of Tomorrow" prototype restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, featuring AI-powered drive-thru assistance, robotic fry stations, and redesigned dining spaces that blend automation with hospitality. The 104-year-old burger chain's tech-forward approach reflects a broader industry shift toward balancing digital efficiency with enhanced on-premise experiences as consumer spending returns to in-restaurant dining. What you should know: The new prototype incorporates several cutting-edge technologies designed to improve both customer experience and operational efficiency. The restaurant features Julia, an AI-powered drive-thru voice assistant named after a long-time team member, and the latest generation of Flippy, a robotic fry station...
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How they do it, not what they do it with: PepsiCo cracks enterprise AI with novelty
PepsiCo has cracked the code on enterprise AI adoption, but not in the way most companies expect. While businesses worldwide scramble to deploy the latest AI tools, the beverage and snack giant is taking a fundamentally different approach: buying best-in-class technology while fiercely protecting ownership of core business processes. This strategic balance—embracing external innovation while maintaining internal control—represents a significant departure from the outsourcing-heavy model that dominated enterprise technology for decades. Dr. Athina Kanioura, PepsiCo's Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, shared this philosophy at Salesforce Dreamforce 2025, outlining an approach that other enterprises can adapt for their own AI transformations....
read Oct 14, 2025Shop, talk: Walmart partners with OpenAI to enable ChatGPT conversational purchases
Walmart has partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its shopping experience, allowing customers to purchase items through AI-powered conversations. The collaboration represents a significant shift from traditional search-and-browse e-commerce toward conversational shopping, as America's largest retailer seeks to leverage artificial intelligence to streamline customer interactions and reduce purchase friction. What you should know: Walmart is deploying ChatGPT technology to create a more seamless shopping experience that moves beyond conventional search bars and product lists. The partnership will enable customers to buy items through OpenAI's chatbot services, though Walmart has not specified an exact launch date beyond "soon." CEO Doug...
read Oct 14, 2025Flailing satellite TV provider DirecTV will use AI to put your face in screensaver ads starting 2026
DirecTV will introduce AI-generated screensaver ads featuring users' faces on its Gemini streaming devices starting in early 2026, partnering with ad company Glance. The move represents another attempt by the struggling satellite TV provider to diversify revenue streams as it faces declining subscriber numbers, dropping from over 20 million in 2015 to approximately 11 million in 2024. What you should know: The AI-powered screensavers will replace Google wallpapers on DirecTV's Gemini Air and Gemini set-top box devices when TVs are idle for 10 minutes. Users can create AI avatars of themselves by scanning QR codes displayed on the screensaver, then...
read Oct 14, 2025Salesforce partners with OpenAI and Stripe for conversational commerce
Salesforce announced two major AI collaborations on Tuesday, partnering with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT directly into its customer relationship management (CRM) platform and working with both OpenAI and Stripe to enable conversational commerce through its Agentforce platform. These partnerships position Salesforce to deliver enterprise-grade AI capabilities that mirror consumer experiences while accelerating the shift toward autonomous digital commerce. What you should know: The OpenAI partnership brings ChatGPT functionality directly into Salesforce's customer relationship management system, allowing businesses to query sales records and build visualizations without leaving their workflow. Companies can access their sales data, review customer conversations, and create Tableau...
read Oct 14, 2025Etsy sellers can now do business through ChatGPT as concern over being seen by customers grows
Etsy has launched a new ChatGPT integration allowing U.S. buyers to purchase products directly through OpenAI's platform without visiting Etsy's website. The partnership represents a significant shift in AI-powered commerce, but seller reactions remain divided as many worry about losing customer relationships and personalized connections that define their handmade businesses. What you should know: The integration is currently limited to sellers participating in Etsy's Offsite Ads program, which automatically enrolls most merchants but allows some to opt out. Only products from Offsite Ads participants can be purchased directly through ChatGPT, while others display a "visit" button redirecting to Etsy's main...
read Oct 10, 2025Ray-Ban, Meta launch $799 smart glasses that require mandatory in-store demos to buy
Ray-Ban and Meta have launched the Display & Neural Band, a $799 smart glasses system that projects text and images directly onto the lens while being controlled through subtle finger gestures via a companion wristband. The device represents a significant leap in wearable AI technology, featuring real-time translation capabilities and requiring mandatory in-store demos at Best Buy before purchase—a strategic shift toward tactile retail experiences for high-tech eyewear. What you should know: The Display & Neural Band combines advanced visual projection technology with gesture-based controls to create a hands-free computing experience. The glasses use micro-projector and waveguide technology to display...
read Oct 10, 2025Lenovo’s $700 Yoga Tab Plus struggles with outdated specs against competitors
Lenovo has released the Yoga Tab Plus, a $700 Android tablet positioning itself as a premium alternative to the iPad Air and Galaxy Tab S11 series. Despite an attractive design and solid build quality, the device suffers from underwhelming AI features, a two-year-old Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and limited software support that undermines its value proposition in the competitive tablet market. What you should know: The Yoga Tab Plus offers impressive hardware specs but falls short on performance and longevity for its price point. Features a 12.7-inch 3K LCD display with 144Hz refresh rate and comes bundled with accessories...
read Oct 10, 2025Nestlé’s best uses AI to optimize supply chains and cut carbon emissions
Nestlé, the world's largest food company, is deploying artificial intelligence across multiple business operations to optimize demand forecasting, recipe development, and sustainability initiatives. The Swiss multinational is using AI not as experimental technology but as productive systems that deliver measurable results in supply chain management and environmental tracking. What you should know: Nestlé has moved beyond pilot projects to implement AI systems that actively improve business operations and sustainability efforts. The company uses AI to predict container arrival times at ports, create statistical forecasts, and enhance demand planning accuracy. Machine learning models analyze historical research and development data to accelerate...
read Oct 10, 2025Chinese humanoid robot listed on Walmart at 57% markup over China price
Chinese robotics company Unitree briefly listed its G1 humanoid robot and Go2 Robot Dog on Walmart's US website through a third-party vendor, marking the first time Chinese humanoid and quadruped robots appeared on a major American retail platform. The listings exposed significant price premiums for US buyers and highlighted China's growing lead over American robotics companies like Tesla and Boston Dynamics. What you should know: The robots were offered by Futurology, a third-party vendor, with substantial markups compared to Chinese pricing. The G1 humanoid robot was priced at $21,600 on Walmart, representing a 57% premium over its $13,500 mainland China...
read Oct 9, 2025Google adds AI virtual try-on for shoes in Search and Shopping
Google has expanded its AI-powered virtual try-on feature to include shoes and sneakers, allowing users to see how footwear looks on them through Google Search and Shopping results. The technology uses full-body photos rather than requiring specific foot images, positioning Google to capture more of the growing virtual shopping market as consumers increasingly seek digital try-before-you-buy experiences. How it works: The virtual shoe try-on uses the same technology as Google's clothing try-on feature, requiring only a full-length photo upload.• Users can select shoes from Google Shopping or search results and tap the "try it on" button to generate a virtual...
read Oct 9, 2025Dia browser available for Mac users with $20/month Pro subscription
The Browser Company has officially released its AI-powered Dia browser to all Mac users after months of beta testing, offering a free tier alongside a $20/month Pro subscription. This agentic browser represents a significant evolution from traditional web browsing by integrating AI automation directly into everyday online tasks, potentially transforming how users shop, research, and navigate the internet. What you should know: Dia is designed as an "entirely agentic browser" that automates web-based tasks through AI integration rather than simply adding AI features to traditional browsing. Users can enter natural language prompts like "I want a modern-looking men's shirt with...
read Oct 7, 2025Google expands AI Plus to 36 more global markets with 50% discount
Google has expanded its AI Plus subscription service to 36 additional emerging markets, bringing the total availability to 77 countries just under a month after its initial announcement. The service is positioned as a more affordable alternative to Google's AI Pro subscription, targeting users in developing regions with comprehensive AI-powered features across Google's ecosystem. What you should know: AI Plus provides access to Google's advanced AI capabilities at a discounted rate for eligible users in emerging markets. Users get access to Gemini 2.5 Pro and Deep Research with a 128K token context window through the Gemini app. The service includes...
read Oct 7, 2025LG slashes premium OLED TV prices by 50% amid market competition
LG's aggressive pricing on its 2025 OLED TV lineup signals intensifying competition in the premium television market, with the company's flagship 65-inch C5 model now available for nearly half its original launch price. The dramatic markdown—from $2,700 to $1,373 on Amazon—represents more than just seasonal discounting; it reflects broader shifts in consumer electronics manufacturing and market dynamics. OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) technology represents the current pinnacle of television display quality, with each pixel generating its own light rather than relying on a backlight system like traditional LCD screens. This fundamental difference allows OLED displays to achieve perfect blacks by completely...
read Oct 7, 2025Toys ‘R’ Them: Chinese AI toy market hits $14B as US giants move to keep up
AI-powered toys that can chat with children are rapidly gaining popularity in China and expanding into US markets. This emerging sector is projected to reach $14 billion by 2030 in China alone, with over 1,500 AI toy companies now operating there, while major US players like Mattel and OpenAI prepare to enter the competition with their own conversational toys later this year. What you should know: Chinese companies are leading the AI toy revolution with products that transform ordinary stuffed animals into interactive companions. BubblePal, a ping-pong ball-sized device that clips onto stuffed animals, has sold 200,000 units since launching...
read Oct 6, 2025Heavy (valuation) lifting: Warehouse packaging automation market to hit $7.5B by 2029
The global end-of-line and warehouse packaging automation market is projected to grow from $5.1 billion in 2024 to $7.5 billion by 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate of 7.9%, according to new research from Interact Analysis, a global market research firm. This $2.4 billion expansion is being driven primarily by warehouse applications rather than traditional manufacturing, as companies combat rising labor costs and respond to e-commerce demands for more efficient packaging solutions. What you should know: Warehouse packaging automation is outpacing manufacturing growth, despite manufacturing currently holding the majority market share. End-of-line manufacturing packaging automation accounted for 61% of...
read Oct 6, 2025Evernote V11 adds OpenAI search features at $130 annual price
Evernote has released Version 11, its first major update since being acquired by Italian company Bending Spoons in 2023, introducing AI-powered search and transcription features developed with OpenAI. The update focuses on helping users better organize and find information within their existing notes rather than generating new content, positioning the service as a "second brain" for personal knowledge management. What you should know: Evernote's AI assistant emphasizes search and organization over content generation, taking a different approach than many AI-powered writing tools. The AI assistant uses conversational chat to help users find relevant notes through natural language queries, combining Evernote's...
read Oct 6, 2025Serve Robotics deploys 1,000th delivery robot with 2,000 more planned by 2025
Serve Robotics has deployed its 1,000th autonomous delivery robot, marking a major operational milestone for the San Francisco-based company as it scales across the United States. The achievement demonstrates the growing viability of sidewalk delivery robots in last-mile logistics, with Serve maintaining its trajectory toward 2,000 deployed units by the end of 2025. What you should know: Serve deployed more than 380 third-generation robots in September alone, bringing its total fleet to 1,000 active units operating across multiple US markets. The company spun out of Uber in 2021 and has completed hundreds of thousands of deliveries for enterprise partners including...
read Oct 3, 202540% of US consumers will pay for AI tools if companies earn their trust with transparency
A new Deloitte survey of over 3,500 US consumers reveals that 40% are willing to pay for generative AI tools, with trust and innovation serving as key drivers of purchasing decisions. The findings challenge previous research suggesting minimal consumer willingness to pay for AI services, highlighting how perceived responsibility and transparency directly correlate with spending behavior. What you should know: Consumer adoption of generative AI has accelerated dramatically over the past year. 53% of surveyed consumers are now experimenting with or regularly using gen AI, up from 38% in 2024. 42% of regular users report gen AI has a "very...
read Oct 3, 2025Ringing the AI bell: 70% of independent hotels say tech is crucial to compete with major chains
Independent hospitality businesses are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence to compete with major hotel chains, with new research showing 70% of property owners view AI as crucial for staying competitive. The technology is democratizing tools once exclusive to large corporations, allowing boutique hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and vacation rentals to streamline operations while preserving their personal touch. What you should know: AI adoption among independent hospitality operators is driven by immediate efficiency gains and competitive necessity. Nearly 39% of current AI users say it provides a significant competitive edge, while 30% consider it essential for survival. Time savings and efficiency are the top...
read Oct 2, 2025Psst, Sora invite codes selling for $35 on eBay after OpenAI app launch
OpenAI's new TikTok-style video app Sora has sparked an unexpected secondary market, with scalpers selling invite codes on eBay for $20 to $35 just one day after launch. The resale frenzy highlights the intense demand for OpenAI's first social media platform, which uses AI to generate videos and is currently restricted to invite-only access to manage computational costs and prevent abuse. What you should know: Over 20 listings for Sora invite codes appeared on eBay within 24 hours of the app's launch, with more than 120 codes already sold according to eBay's Terapeak data. One ambitious seller attempted to auction...
read Oct 1, 2025Green thumbs push AI buttons with Gardyn’s $549 smart plant monitors
The indoor gardening market has exploded as urban dwellers seek fresh, pesticide-free produce without the hassle of traditional farming. Enter the Gardyn Studio 2.0, a compact smart garden that promises to transform how busy professionals grow food at home using artificial intelligence to monitor plant health. This isn't just another glorified planter with LED lights. The Studio 2.0 represents a significant leap forward in automated indoor agriculture, featuring an AI-powered camera system that can identify plants, track their growth, and provide personalized care recommendations. For professionals who want fresh herbs and vegetables but lack gardening expertise or outdoor space, this...
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