News/Retail
Microsoft Copilot AI comes to Samsung’s 2025 smart TVs
Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant is now available on Samsung's 2025 lineup of TVs and smart monitors, featuring an animated interface that can provide movie recommendations and spoiler-free episode summaries. The integration marks Microsoft's expansion of Copilot beyond computers and mobile devices into the living room entertainment space, with plans to extend to LG TVs as well. What you should know: Copilot appears as a friendly, animated presence that resembles Microsoft's opalescent Copilot design, though rendered in a beige color that the company describes as looking like a "personified chickpea."• The AI assistant floats and bounces around the screen with a...
read Aug 27, 2025AI concession tech at Boston’s TD Garden, Fenway Park sparks worker displacement debate
AI-powered concession technology at Boston sports venues has sparked debate over job displacement, with three readers offering contrasting perspectives on automation's impact on stadium workers. The discussion centers around Amazon's Just Walk Out technology implemented at TD Garden and similar systems at Fenway Park, highlighting broader tensions between technological efficiency and worker welfare. What they're saying: Three distinct viewpoints emerge from readers responding to concerns about AI replacing concession workers. Charlie Tillett from Wayland argues that technological disruption is inevitable: "Just because a workflow is being disrupted by utilizing artificial intelligence does not mean we should be locked into the...
read Aug 27, 202552% of hotel guests now expect AI in their touchpoint travel experience
New research from PYMNTS Intelligence reveals that 52% of hotel guests now expect artificial intelligence to play a role in customer interactions during their stay, including check-in processes and support services. This dramatic shift in consumer expectations reflects how quickly AI has moved from experimental technology to an anticipated standard in hospitality, fundamentally changing how travelers envision their service experience. What you should know: The travel industry has rapidly embraced generative AI across multiple touchpoints, with both airlines and hotels deploying the technology to enhance customer service and operational efficiency. Airlines are using AI to manage passenger communications more effectively,...
read Aug 27, 2025Rokid’s $599 AI glasses challenge Meta with built-in displays
Rokid has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its new AI Glasses, featuring dual micro LED displays that provide heads-up functionality for navigation, real-time translation, and teleprompter capabilities. Priced at $599 with November shipping, these glasses directly challenge Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses by offering visual displays that Meta's current $299 model lacks, potentially positioning Rokid advantageously ahead of Meta's rumored $800 AR glasses launch. What you should know: Rokid's AI Glasses combine familiar smart glasses features with breakthrough display technology that sets them apart from existing competitors. The glasses include a 12MP camera, open-ear speakers, and ChatGPT integration for capturing moments,...
read Aug 25, 2025Holiday Sale: Samsung’s OLED M9 smart monitor drops to $1,299 for Labor Day
Samsung has returned its 2025 Smart Monitor lineup to all-time low pricing for Labor Day, with the flagship 32-inch OLED M9 model now available for $1,299.99—$300 off its $1,600 list price. The sale includes the company's first OLED smart monitor featuring Samsung Vision AI, alongside significant discounts on the M8 and M5 models, making premium display technology more accessible to consumers seeking workstation upgrades. What you should know: Samsung's 2025 Smart Monitor collection features three models at heavily discounted prices through Labor Day sales. The 32-inch OLED M9 (M90SF) Smart Monitor is down to $1,299.99, matching its lowest price since...
read Aug 25, 2025Montana restaurant begs customers to stop using Google AI for (its fake) daily specials
A Montana restaurant is pleading with customers to stop using Google's AI Overviews to check their daily specials after the AI repeatedly fabricated non-existent deals and menu items. Stefanina's Wentzville has been flooded with angry customers demanding discounts the restaurant never offered, highlighting how AI hallucinations can directly harm small businesses. What happened: Google's AI Overviews has been generating false information about Stefanina's Wentzville, creating fake specials and menu items that don't exist.• The AI told customers the restaurant was offering "a large pizza for the price of a small one," among other fabricated deals.• Restaurant owner Eva Gannon said...
read Aug 22, 2025Google’s AI Mode now books restaurants for $250/month subscribers
Google has introduced agentic AI capabilities to its AI Mode search feature that can help users find restaurants and make reservations automatically. The new functionality, currently limited to Google AI Ultra subscribers paying $250 per month, represents Google's latest attempt to bring AI agents into practical consumer applications after previous efforts like Duplex failed to gain widespread adoption. How it works: AI Mode now leverages Project Mariner, Google's AI agent technology, and partnerships with booking platforms to streamline restaurant discovery and reservation booking. Users provide details like party size, date, time, location, and preferred cuisine in a single text prompt....
read Aug 21, 2025Dapper AI: MIT startup creates smart clothing that adjusts temperature
Ministry of Supply, an MIT-connected apparel company, is integrating artificial intelligence across both its smart clothing products and business operations. Founded by Gihan Amarasiriwardena, the company demonstrates how AI can transform traditional retail through advanced garment technology and intelligent business processes, offering a glimpse into the future of connected wearables. What you should know: Ministry of Supply creates performance apparel that combines style with AI-powered functionality and sustainable manufacturing practices. The company produces machine-washable clothing from recycled and low-carbon materials using energy-saving manufacturing models. All products undergo rigorous performance durability tests and are "backed by science," according to Amarasiriwardena. AI...
read Aug 20, 2025Insta360’s $150 AI webcam uses gimbal tech to fix video calls
The remote work revolution has fundamentally changed how professionals present themselves on camera, making webcam quality a crucial factor in career success and business productivity. While most built-in laptop cameras deliver grainy, poorly lit video that can undermine professional credibility, a new generation of AI-powered webcams is changing the game entirely. Insta360, a company known for innovative camera technology, has developed the Link 2 4K webcam that addresses the core limitations of traditional webcams through hardware innovation rather than software workarounds. Currently available for $150 (down from its usual $200 price), this device represents a significant leap forward in how...
read Aug 20, 2025AI avatars outperform human salespeople in China’s $7.7M livestream market
Chinese AI-powered "virtual human" salespeople are outperforming their human counterparts on major Chinese ecommerce platforms, working 24/7 to sell everything from printers to wet wipes. Built using technology from Baidu, one of China's largest tech companies, and DeepSeek, these AI avatars are demonstrating the potential for artificial intelligence to fundamentally reshape digital commerce and potentially displace human influencers and salespeople. What you should know: PLTFRM, a Shanghai-based marketing company, has deployed around 30 AI avatar salespeople across Chinese ecommerce sites like Taobao and Pinduoduo, with measurable success rates. Brother's AI avatar sold $2,500 worth of printers in its first two...
read Aug 20, 2025Pixel Watch 4 adds curved display and satellite communication for $349
Google unveiled the Pixel Watch 4 at its Made by Google event, featuring a striking curved domed display beneath the signature teardrop glass design. The smartwatch maintains the same $349 starting price as its predecessor while delivering enhanced AI capabilities through Gemini integration, improved battery life, and upgraded internals including emergency satellite communication. What you should know: The Pixel Watch 4's most distinctive feature is its Actua 360 domed display that curves beneath the glass, creating better visibility at angles. The display offers 10% more active area and 15% smaller bezels compared to the Pixel Watch 3, with maximum brightness...
read Aug 19, 2025One good turn: Keychain raises $30M to replace legacy ERP systems with AI-powered OS
Keychain, an AI-powered marketplace for consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers, has raised $30 million in Series B funding and launched KeychainOS, an AI operating system designed to replace legacy Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems in manufacturing. The company, founded by former Angi CEO Oisin Hanrahan, aims to capture market share in the $81.15 billion ERP market by offering a CPG-specific alternative that can be implemented in days rather than months. What you should know: Keychain has rapidly grown from a search-and-discovery platform to a comprehensive AI operating system serving major retailers and CPG brands. The company now serves more than...
read Aug 19, 202599% of UK retailers now have in-house AI teams despite being cautious about full deployment
Nearly all UK retailers now have dedicated AI expertise in-house, with 61% establishing specialized AI leadership teams including Chief AI Officers, according to new research from Monday.com, a workplace management platform. However, despite this widespread adoption, retailers remain cautious about fully automating customer interactions, with 49% believing AI tools aren't yet ready to manage complete customer journeys independently. Why this matters: The retail sector is rapidly building AI capabilities while maintaining human oversight for critical decisions. 99% of UK retail decision-makers report having AI expertise within their businesses. 97% of respondents faced at least one obstacle when adopting AI despite...
read Aug 18, 2025Boston sports workers cry foul (ball) as AI-powered self-checkout systems slash income
AI-powered self-checkout systems are transforming concession operations at major Boston sports venues, including Fenway Park and TD Garden, but workers are experiencing significant income losses and reduced hours. The technology represents a broader shift as artificial intelligence moves beyond manufacturing into service industries, fundamentally altering not just job availability but compensation structures and workplace dynamics. What you should know: Sports venues across Boston have deployed AI checkout systems that dramatically reduce staffing needs while boosting sales for operators. Fenway Park installed six Mashgin AI-powered checkout machines in 2023, which use computer vision algorithms to identify products and process payments automatically....
read Aug 18, 2025Not WWE: AMD’s new 64-core “Threadripper” 9980X offers local AI alternative for $5K
AMD has launched its Ryzen Threadripper 9000 Series workstation processors, featuring the 32-core Threadripper 9970X ($2,499) and 64-core Threadripper 9980X ($4,999). The processors target enterprise developers building AI applications locally, offering a cost-effective alternative to cloud-based solutions while addressing security concerns and providing the computational power needed for large language models and intensive development work. What you should know: These workstations bridge the performance gap between consumer PCs and enterprise servers, specifically designed for AI development, STEM applications, and content creation. The Threadripper 9970X delivers 32 cores and 64 threads, while the flagship 9980X offers 64 cores and 128 threads...
read Aug 18, 2025Eufy S350 4K security camera drops to $99 with AI tracking
Anker is offering its eufy S350 Security Indoor Camera at $99.99, down from its usual $140 price tag, marking a 29% discount that saves buyers $40. The camera stands out with its dual-camera setup featuring both 4K wide-angle and 2K telephoto lenses, delivering 8x hybrid zoom capabilities and 360-degree pan-and-tilt coverage for comprehensive home monitoring. Key features: The S350 combines superior imaging technology with intelligent tracking capabilities for enhanced home security. The dual-camera system provides 4K UHD resolution with an impressive 8x hybrid zoom, allowing users to capture detailed footage from various distances. Complete 360-degree pan and tilt functionality eliminates...
read Aug 15, 2025Chinese brand debuts 16-core AMD laptop with 99.9Wh battery under 1.8kg
Sixunited, a Shanghai-based laptop manufacturer, has launched the XN77-160M-CS featuring AMD's latest Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 APU, beating major brands like Dell and Lenovo to market with the high-end processor. The laptop combines the rare 16-core Strix Halo chip with a massive 99.9Wh battery in an under-1.8kg aluminum chassis, targeting users who need both power and extended battery life. What you should know: The XN77-160M-CS is one of only a handful of laptops to feature AMD's Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 APU, also known as Strix Halo. The 16-core processor includes integrated Navi 3.5 graphics and a 50 TOPS NPU (neural...
read Aug 15, 2025Curio releases AI-powered, anime-inspired stuffed animals as chatbots for kids aged 3+
Curio, a Redwood City-based startup, has launched AI-powered stuffed animals that serve as chatbots for children as young as 3 years old. The plushies contain hidden Wi-Fi-enabled voice boxes that connect to artificial intelligence language models, positioning the toys as an alternative to screen time and traditional parental interaction. How it works: Each of Curio's three smiling plushies features a back zipper pocket concealing the AI technology that brings the characters to life. The toys connect to Wi-Fi and use artificial intelligence language models specifically calibrated to converse with young children. Characters like Grem, a fuzzy cube styled like an...
read Aug 14, 2025Envision and Solos launch $399 AI glasses for blind users
Envision has partnered with Solos to launch the Ally Solos Glasses, camera-equipped smart glasses specifically designed for blind and low-vision users. The $399 pre-order price represents a significant discount from the planned $699 retail price, positioning these accessibility-focused smart glasses as a more affordable alternative in the growing assistive technology market. Key details: The Ally Solos Glasses combine hardware from Solos with Envision's specialized AI assistant to provide comprehensive visual assistance. The glasses can read and translate text, describe surroundings, search the web, and recognize people, objects, and signs through built-in cameras. Information is delivered via open-ear speakers integrated into...
read Aug 14, 2025HTC launches AI-powered Vive Eagle smart glasses for $520. In Taiwan.
HTC has entered the competitive AI-powered smart glasses market with its new Vive Eagle smart glasses, featuring a built-in AI assistant, 12MP ultrawide camera, and built-in speakers. The move positions HTC alongside tech giants like Meta, Google, Samsung, and potentially Apple in the rapidly expanding smart eyewear category, though the glasses are currently only available in Taiwan for around $520. What you should know: The Vive Eagle glasses offer AI-powered features that directly compete with Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses offerings. Wearers can use the built-in Vive AI voice assistant to translate text they're viewing into 13 different languages through AI-powered...
read Aug 14, 2025Semantics soaring: Google’s AI Flight Deals finds flights from descriptive searches
Google has introduced Flight Deals, an AI-powered tool that helps travelers find cheap flights based on descriptive searches rather than specific destinations. The beta feature allows users to describe their ideal trip—such as "a tropical destination with snorkeling" or "a weekend countryside getaway with trail rides"—and uses AI to suggest matching flights and destinations. How it works: Flight Deals takes a conversational approach to flight searching, letting users describe their travel preferences in natural language.• Users can specify activities, trip duration, flight time preferences, and general location desires without naming specific destinations.• Google's AI processes these descriptions and suggests both...
read Aug 12, 2025LG C5 OLED TVs hit record-low prices with up to $900 off
LG's premium OLED TV lineup just became significantly more accessible, with the company's latest C5 series hitting record-low prices across multiple screen sizes. The 55-inch model, originally priced at $1,800, has dropped to $1,299 on Amazon—a substantial $500 discount that represents the deepest price cut since the series launched earlier this year. This pricing shift extends across the entire C5 range, with savings reaching over $900 on larger models. The timing is particularly notable given that OLED displays, which use organic light-emitting diodes to create perfect blacks and vibrant colors, typically maintain premium pricing throughout their first year on the...
read Aug 6, 2025Breakthru Beverage CIO targets $700M in AI-powered e-commerce revenue
Glenn Remoreras has joined Breakthru Beverage Group as Chief Information Officer with a mandate to transform the $8.6 billion family-owned distributor into the most technologically advanced company in its industry. His strategy centers on scaling digital commerce, implementing AI across operations, and modernizing the sales process for the company's 10,000-person workforce. What you should know: Remoreras is taking a methodical approach to AI adoption that prioritizes education and infrastructure before deployment. The company targets $700 million in revenue through its B2B e-commerce platform Breakthru Now this year, enhanced with AI-powered chatbots and dynamic recommendations. Rather than rushing AI pilots, Remoreras...
read Aug 1, 2025Samsung unfolds free 6-month Google AI Pro subscriptions with purchase of foldable phones
Samsung's latest foldable phones are breaking preorder records, and the company is sweetening the deal with a valuable bonus that many buyers might overlook. Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and Z Flip 7 FE purchasers can claim six months of Google AI Pro absolutely free—a $120 value that unlocks advanced artificial intelligence tools, expanded cloud storage, and premium features designed to enhance productivity. This promotion arrives as Samsung celebrates record-breaking demand for its newest foldables. According to the company, preorders have surged nearly 60% compared to last year's models, with carrier partners reporting unprecedented interest in the lighter,...
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