News/Retail
Galaxy Watch 8 brings Google’s Gemini AI to your wrist for $350
Samsung Electronics has unveiled its latest smartwatch lineup, the Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, featuring Google's Wear OS 6 operating system with built-in Gemini AI chatbot functionality. The devices represent Samsung's continued effort to compete with Apple in the smartwatch market, with the AI assistant accessible through voice commands or a dedicated button on the watch. Key product details: The new Galaxy Watch series includes two models priced at different tiers for varying consumer needs. The Galaxy Watch 8 is priced at $350, while the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic costs $500. Both devices are among the first...
read Jul 7, 2025Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum drops to $298 in Amazon sale
Amazon is offering the Shark AI Ultra Voice Control Robot Vacuum with a 60-day capacity bagless station for $298, down from its regular $599 price tag. This deal represents a 50% discount on a premium robot vacuum that combines advanced mapping technology with extended autonomous operation, making high-end home cleaning automation more accessible to consumers. What you should know: The Shark AI Ultra features sophisticated navigation and cleaning systems designed for comprehensive home coverage. The robot uses 360-degree LiDAR vision (laser-based mapping technology) to map homes and clean in a precision matrix grid pattern, taking multiple passes over dirt and...
read Jul 2, 2025Heart-of-hearing: Smart glasses display real-time subtitles for deaf users to reduce social isolation
TranscribeGlass has launched smart eyeglasses that display real-time subtitles of conversations directly onto the lens, designed primarily for deaf and hard-of-hearing users. The lightweight glasses cost $377 with a $20 monthly subscription and represent a focused approach to smart eyewear that prioritizes accessibility over flashy features. How it works: The 36-gram glasses use a companion iOS app to process audio and project subtitles onto a small display in the user's field of vision. A waveguide projector beams 640 x 480p text onto the glass, with no cameras, microphones, or speakers built into the frames themselves. Users can adjust subtitle positioning...
read Jul 2, 2025Lenovo Yoga 9i Aura Edition packs AI tools at $1,440
Lenovo's Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition positions itself as a MacBook Pro competitor, featuring AI-powered productivity tools, a vibrant OLED display, and solid battery life at a discounted price of $1,440. The laptop integrates artificial intelligence features designed to enhance workplace productivity, though its lightweight design comes with performance trade-offs compared to more powerful alternatives. What you should know: The Yoga 9i Aura Edition combines convertible functionality with AI-driven features that aim to improve user experience and productivity. The "Aura Edition" designation refers to a suite of AI tools including Smart Share for seamless file transfer between smartphones and laptops,...
read Jul 1, 2025David’s Bridal pivots from dresses to AI-powered wedding services
David's Bridal has launched Pearl Planner, an AI-powered wedding planning platform that represents the twice-bankrupt retailer's ambitious bet on technology to drive its survival. The beta platform uses knowledge graph architecture and multiple specialized AI models to automate wedding planning tasks, match brides with vendors, and generate personalized recommendations—transforming the 75-year-old company from a traditional dress retailer into a technology-enabled wedding services platform. The big picture: David's Bridal is using AI to fundamentally reinvent its business model, shifting from selling products to creating a platform that connects brides with wedding vendors while generating new revenue streams through subscriptions. The company...
read Jun 27, 2025Claude AI ran a retail shop and failed like any ol’ small biz
Anthropic's Claude AI attempted to run a physical retail shop for a month, resulting in spectacular business failures that included selling tungsten cubes at a loss, offering endless discounts to nearly all customers, and experiencing an identity crisis where it claimed to wear a business suit. The experiment, called "Project Vend," represents one of the first real-world tests of AI operating with significant economic autonomy and reveals critical insights about AI limitations in business contexts. The big picture: Claude demonstrated sophisticated capabilities like finding suppliers and managing inventory, but fundamental misunderstandings of business economics led to consistent losses and bizarre...
read Jun 27, 2025ThredUp uses AI to sort 80K daily items while cutting teams to just 4 (humans)
ThredUp, one of the world's largest online apparel resale platforms, is using artificial intelligence to manage the 70,000 to 80,000 items that flow through its platform daily. The company has moved beyond basic analytics to deploy generative AI across both customer-facing features and backend operations, demonstrating how even digital-native companies must evolve their AI strategies as they scale. The big picture: ThredUp processes over 100 million unique SKUs and has been using machine learning in production since 2015, but generative AI has transformed how the company handles both search functionality and operational sorting. How it works: The company overhauled its...
read Jun 27, 2025Xiaomi Smart Band 10 launches with AI fitness tracking for $37
Xiaomi has officially launched the Smart Band 10, its latest budget fitness tracker featuring a larger 1.72-inch AMOLED display, AI-powered fitness tracking, and enhanced ecosystem integration. Starting at just 269 RMB (~$37), the device maintains Xiaomi's commitment to affordable wearables while introducing significant upgrades that position it as a serious competitor in the fitness tracking market. What you should know: The Smart Band 10 represents a substantial upgrade over its predecessors with key improvements across display, fitness tracking, and smart features. The device features a 1.72-inch AMOLED display with narrower, symmetrical bezels, 1,500 nits peak brightness, and a 60Hz refresh...
read Jun 26, 2025How Walmart built one of the world’s largest enterprise AI operations
Walmart has quietly assembled one of the world's most sophisticated enterprise AI operations, managing thousands of use cases across its 4,700 stores and 255 million weekly customers. Rather than deploying AI as an experimental add-on, the retail giant has fundamentally restructured how it approaches artificial intelligence—treating trust not as a compliance afterthought, but as a core engineering requirement. During VB Transform 2025, Desirée Gosby, Walmart's VP of Emerging Technology, revealed how the company operationalizes AI at unprecedented scale. Her insights offer a rare glimpse into how enterprises can move beyond pilot programs to achieve meaningful AI transformation. "We see this...
read Jun 26, 2025Show me, Xiaomi: Chinese firm’s AI glasses offer features Meta’s Ray-Bans lack
Xiaomi has unveiled AI-powered smart glasses that feature electrochromic dimming technology, allowing users to manually adjust lens darkness by sliding their finger along the frame. While the glasses closely resemble Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses in design and core functionality, this manual dimming feature addresses a key limitation that has made smart glasses less practical for all-day wear across varying lighting conditions. What you should know: The Xiaomi AI glasses offer several hardware upgrades over Meta's current offerings while maintaining a similar price point. They feature a 12MP camera capable of 2K video recording at 30 frames per second, built-in microphones,...
read Jun 25, 2025Everyday AI Value: Five Below’s 4-step AI blueprint drives 19.5% sales growth
Discount retailer Five Below has cracked the code on AI strategy implementation, demonstrating how thoughtful artificial intelligence deployment can drive both operational excellence and customer satisfaction. While many retailers struggle to move beyond AI pilot programs, Five Below has systematically integrated AI-powered inventory management across nearly 1,800 stores, generating measurable returns that support aggressive expansion plans. The Philadelphia-based chain, which targets tweens and teens with trendy products under $5, exemplifies how retailers can leverage AI as a transformative business tool rather than merely an efficiency Band-Aid. With revenue exceeding $4 billion and plans to add 150 new stores in fiscal...
read Jun 24, 2025Augmented Retail: Walmart built internal AI platform serving 1.5M associates daily
Walmart has built Element, an internal AI foundry platform that now serves 1.5 million associates across its operations, handling 3 million daily queries from 900,000 weekly users. Rather than buying enterprise AI solutions, the retail giant created a manufacturing-style approach to AI development that treats applications like products rolling off an assembly line, fundamentally changing how large enterprises can deploy artificial intelligence at scale. What you should know: Element's foundry model eliminates traditional AI deployment cycles by standardizing the entire development process from conception to production. The platform is LLM-agnostic, allowing Walmart to select the most cost-effective model for each...
read Jun 20, 2025AI delivers the full syrupy stack as IHOP, Applebee’s deploy tech to personalize menu suggestions
Applebee's and IHOP plan to deploy an AI-powered "personalization engine" that will recommend menu items and offer customized deals based on customers' past purchases and similar ordering patterns. The initiative represents Dine Brands' strategy to boost customer loyalty and increase sales through targeted upselling, joining a growing trend of restaurant chains integrating AI technology into their operations. What you should know: The personalization system will analyze customer data to create tailored recommendations and promotional offers. Justin Skelton, chief information officer at Dine Brands (the parent company of both restaurants), says the AI-powered system is designed to boost customer loyalty while...
read Jun 20, 2025Meta launches $499 Oakley smart glasses with 3K video and 8-hour battery
Meta has announced a new line of smart glasses developed in partnership with Oakley, with the limited-edition Oakley Meta HSTN model priced at $499 and available for preorder starting July 11th. The collaboration marks Meta's expansion into the athletic performance market while building on the success of its Ray-Ban smart glasses, which have sold over two million pairs to date. What you should know: The Oakley Meta glasses target athletes and active users with enhanced durability and performance features. • The glasses offer IPX4 water resistance rating and double the battery life of Meta Ray-Bans, providing 8 hours of use...
read Jun 19, 2025AI avatars help Chinese 7-hour livestreamer generate $7.65M in sales
Chinese livestreamer Luo Yonghao and his co-host generated $7.65 million in sales during a seven-hour session using AI avatars of themselves on Baidu's e-commerce platform. The digital human performance outpaced Luo's previous personal livestream, signaling a potential shift in how AI-powered virtual influencers could reshape China's massive e-commerce livestreaming industry. What you should know: The AI avatars were built using Baidu's generative AI model, which learned from five years of video content to replicate Luo's jokes and presentation style. Luo, who has 24.7 million followers on ByteDance's Douyin platform, started livestreaming in April 2020 to pay off debts from his...
read Jun 16, 2025AI steps out with LVMH awards for 3 innovative luxury retail startups
LVMH announced the winners of its ninth Innovation Award during Paris's Viva Tech conference, recognizing three AI-powered startups for solutions developed within the luxury conglomerate's ecosystem. The awards highlight how artificial intelligence is transforming luxury retail through hyper-personalization, content creation efficiency, and sustainability initiatives, with companies like L'Oréal simultaneously announcing major AI partnerships with NVIDIA. What you should know: This year's competition focused specifically on projects with measurable ROI within LVMH's brand portfolio, marking a shift toward more business-focused innovation. Best Business Prize went to US-based Kahoona for its collaboration with Dior, delivering real-time predictive audience segmentation that "took personalized...
read Jun 12, 2025San Francisco Barbie: Mattel partners with OpenAI to create AI-powered toys amid declining sales
Barbie-maker Mattel has partnered with OpenAI to develop AI-powered toys and games, with plans to launch its first AI-enhanced product later this year. The collaboration comes as toy manufacturers face declining demand amid economic uncertainty, prompting companies to explore new technologies and revenue streams to revitalize their core business. What you should know: Mattel will integrate OpenAI's technology into both its products and internal operations to drive innovation across the company. The partnership focuses on creating "age-appropriate play experiences with an emphasis on innovation, privacy, and safety," according to Mattel's announcement. Beyond consumer products, Mattel will incorporate OpenAI's ChatGPT Enterprise...
read Jun 11, 2025Everyday low price agentic AI: Walmart launches “Sparky” shopping assistant
Walmart has launched Sparky, a generative AI-powered shopping assistant embedded in its mobile app that goes beyond traditional chatbots to function as an autonomous agent. The move represents Walmart's most aggressive bet on agentic AI, positioning the retail giant to transform shopping from a search-driven experience into a service-based interaction while competing directly with Amazon and other retailers racing to deploy AI assistants. What you should know: Sparky can currently summarize reviews, compare products, suggest items for specific occasions, and answer real-world questions about sports teams and events. Upcoming features will include reordering and scheduling services, visual understanding for image...
read Jun 11, 2025Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses drop to $239 with rare 20% discount
Amazon is offering Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses for $239, marking a rare 20% discount on the popular wearable technology that combines Ray-Ban's classic design with Meta's AI capabilities. The deal represents significant savings on a product that was frequently out of stock during much of 2024 and has rarely seen price reductions since its launch. What you should know: The discounted glasses deliver near-AirPods audio quality while adding camera and AI assistant functionality that traditional headphones can't match. The smart glasses feature built-in speakers that provide audio quality "nearly as bright and clear as a pair of AirPods" for calls...
read Jun 10, 2025Samsung offers $100 credit for upcoming AI smart monitors with no commitment
Samsung has launched a reserve campaign offering free $100 credits toward its upcoming next-generation AI Smart Monitors, with no purchase commitment required. The promotion runs through June 24th and allows users to secure savings on what appears to be the new Smart Monitor M9, which Samsung describes as the "first monitor" to integrate on-device AI. What you should know: The reservation system requires only an email signup and comes with zero financial commitment. Users can register on Samsung's landing page between June 9th (10am EST) and June 24th (9:59am EST) to receive the $100 credit. The credit can be applied...
read Jun 10, 2025Making a habit of Starbucks? Starling Bank launches AI tool that assesses spending routines
Starling Bank has launched an AI-powered spending analysis tool that answers natural language questions about customers' financial habits, such as revealing how much they've spent at specific retailers like McDonald's over any given period. Built with Google Gemini, the "enhanced search" feature automatically categorizes transactions across more than 50 customizable categories and provides personalized spending insights through conversational prompts. How it works: The opt-in AI tool transforms traditional banking data into an interactive financial advisor that responds to everyday questions about spending patterns. Customers can ask questions like "How much did I spend at Amazon last month?" or "How much...
read Jun 5, 2025Nestle India slashes ad budget 25% but boosts digital marketing
Nestlé India's strategic pivot to digital storytelling and ecommerce comes amid a significant 25% reduction in advertising spend for FY25. Despite financial headwinds, the FMCG giant has maintained brand investment through focused digital transformation initiatives and targeted campaigns for flagship products like Maggi and KitKat, demonstrating how major consumer brands can sustain market presence even with constrained marketing budgets. The big picture: Nestlé India slashed its advertising and promotional spending to Rs 965.86 crore in FY25, down from Rs 1,287.68 crore the previous year, while simultaneously experiencing a 15.7% profit decline. The company reported Rs 3,314 crore in profit, down...
read Jun 3, 2025Barking rad AI-powered Fi Series 3+ smart dog collar detects behavior
The integration of AI into pet technology is creating new opportunities for health monitoring, with Fi's latest smart collar offering advanced behavioral tracking alongside improved GPS capabilities. This progression of wearable technology for pets demonstrates how AI is expanding beyond human applications to provide pet owners with unprecedented insights into animal health and activity patterns, potentially transforming veterinary care through more comprehensive data collection. The big picture: Fi has upgraded its smart dog collar lineup with the Series 3+ that incorporates AI-powered behavior detection to monitor specific pet activities while offering enhanced GPS tracking capabilities. The collar can now detect...
read May 23, 2025Honor AI tech transforms photos into videos on new 400 series
Honor's latest mid-range smartphone series introduces powerful AI photography features alongside premium hardware specifications at competitive price points. The Honor 400 and 400 Pro represent a significant step up from the earlier 400 Lite model, placing artificial intelligence at the center of their photography capabilities while promising extended software support that exceeds industry standards. The hardware lineup: Honor has launched two new mid-range devices that emphasize computational photography powered by dedicated AI features. The base Honor 400 starts at €499/£399.99 with a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor, 8GB RAM, and either 256GB or 512GB storage options. The premium Honor 400...
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