News/Retail
Honor copies iPhone camera feature using Google Lens
Honor is introducing a dedicated "AI Camera Button" on its new Honor 400 Lite mid-range smartphone, joining the growing trend of specialized hardware controls in modern devices. The physical button offers both standard camera functionality and direct access to Google Lens capabilities, positioning the device to compete in the increasingly AI-focused smartphone market while maintaining an affordable £249.99 price point. The big picture: Honor's new physical "AI Camera Button" combines camera controls with AI features, specifically Google Lens integration. The button functions as both a shutter control and an AI assistant launcher, mimicking features recently introduced by competitors like Apple...
read Apr 16, 2025Long-term care: Samsung extends 6-year software support to budget Galaxy A36 and A26
Samsung is pushing the boundaries of budget smartphone support with its newest Galaxy A-series phones, creating unprecedented longevity in the sub-$500 market. The company's commitment to six years of software updates for devices starting at just $300 represents a significant shift in the affordable smartphone segment, where extended support has traditionally been reserved for premium devices. This move comes as Apple exits the truly affordable market with its $599 iPhone 16e, creating an opportunity for Samsung to capture more budget-conscious consumers seeking long-term value. The big picture: Samsung's new Galaxy A36 and A26 phones will receive six years of software...
read Apr 12, 2025Amazon’s new AI ‘Interests’ feature acts as a personal shopper for users
Amazon is expanding the artificial intelligence capabilities underpinning its e-commerce platform with a new feature called "Interests." This generative AI tool continuously monitors Amazon's inventory to proactively recommend products matching users' self-described passions and preferences. By transforming casual language into specific queries that traditional search engines can process, Amazon is attempting to recreate the experience of having a personal shopper who understands individual tastes and actively looks for relevant new products. The big picture: Amazon has launched "Interests," a generative AI feature that uses large language models to transform user preferences into ongoing, personalized product recommendations as new items become...
read Apr 11, 2025Gen AI traffic to retail sites surges 1,300%, reshaping online shopping
Generative AI is rapidly transforming online shopping behavior, with consumers increasingly turning to AI assistants to guide their purchase decisions rather than treating them as mere site interruptions. New Adobe Analytics research, analyzing over one trillion visits to US retail sites alongside survey data from 5,000 respondents, reveals a dramatic shift in how AI is influencing the digital economy and driving significant traffic to retailers, creating both opportunities and challenges for brands. The big picture: Gen AI traffic to retail sites has experienced explosive growth, increasing 1,300% during the 2024 holiday season compared to the previous year, with traffic now...
read Apr 10, 2025Adobe shifts to AI agents with 10 new tools to transform customer experiences
Adobe is pivoting from its initial generative AI focus on image creation tools to an agent-based strategy, launching 10 specialized AI agents and a new orchestration platform designed to personalize customer experiences. The company's shift comes as enterprise clients move beyond exploring creative AI tools toward embracing autonomous agents that can transform how businesses engage with customers. Adobe's dual approach of introducing both agent technology and enhanced personalization features aims to help organizations scale their digital experience delivery while maintaining brand consistency. The big picture: Adobe has unveiled 10 specialized agents on its Experience Platform alongside a new orchestration tool...
read Apr 9, 2025Google’s AI shopping tools let you create and virtually try on clothing and makeup
Google's Vision Match and AR Beauty features are transforming online shopping with AI-generated visuals and virtual try-ons. Now widely available after limited testing, these tools help shoppers visualize clothing and makeup based on descriptions or trends, bridging the gap between imagination and shopping reality. These innovations represent Google's growing commitment to using AI for enhancing online retail experiences with more personalized and interactive shopping capabilities. The big picture: Google has expanded access to Vision Match, an AI tool that generates clothing images based on user descriptions and suggests similar purchasable items. The feature, previously limited to testers, is now available...
read Apr 8, 2025When they go low, we go high: Apple restricts AI features to premium devices as competitors expand access
Apple's strategic decision to exclude Apple Intelligence from its new entry-level iPad highlights a growing divergence in how major tech companies approach AI integration in consumer devices. While Apple maintains a hardware-tiered approach that restricts advanced AI features to premium products, competitors like Google and Amazon are democratizing AI access across broader price points. This product segmentation strategy reveals fundamental differences in how tech giants view AI's value proposition and accessibility as the technology becomes increasingly central to consumer tech experiences. The big picture: Apple has launched its 11th-generation iPad without Apple Intelligence support, creating a clear distinction between its...
read Apr 7, 2025Yum! Brands brings AI ordering to 500 restaurants in major Nvidia partnership
Yum! Brands is dramatically expanding its AI implementation across KFC, Taco Bell, and other restaurant chains, positioning fast food as many Americans' first meaningful interaction with conversational AI technology. Following a successful initial deployment at hundreds of Taco Bell locations last fall, the world's largest restaurant company is now partnering with Nvidia to integrate AI more deeply throughout its global network of over 61,000 locations. The big picture: Yum! Brands is rolling out AI-powered ordering systems and operational tools to 500 restaurants across its portfolio, potentially making fast food drive-thrus the most common touchpoint between everyday consumers and advanced AI...
read Apr 7, 2025Nvidia partners with Yum! Brands to expand AI ordering to 500 fast food locations by 2025
Yum! Brands' new AI partnership with Nvidia marks a significant expansion of automated ordering systems across fast food chains. The company plans to implement AI drive-thrus at 500 Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Habit Burger locations by the end of 2025, building on its existing deployment in over 100 restaurants across 13 U.S. states. This move represents a growing trend of AI integration in customer-facing food service that promises increased efficiency but raises questions about potential impacts on human employment. The big picture: Yum! Brands has announced a formal partnership with Nvidia that will bring AI ordering systems to...
read Mar 28, 2025Amazon blocks 99% of counterfeit listings with AI-powered fraud prevention
Amazon's latest Brand Protection Report reveals significant advances in AI-powered fraud prevention, showcasing how the e-commerce giant has weaponized artificial intelligence to combat counterfeiting. The company's billion-dollar investment and strategic hiring of ML scientists and software developers has enabled them to block over 99% of suspected infringing listings proactively, demonstrating how AI has become central to maintaining marketplace integrity and consumer trust in digital commerce. The big picture: Amazon invested more than $1 billion last year and expanded its workforce with specialized AI talent to strengthen its fraud prevention capabilities. The company specifically hired machine learning scientists and software developers...
read Mar 28, 2025Instacart uses AI vision to solve out-of-stock grocery frustrations, satiate consumers
Instacart's new AI vision technology aims to solve a persistent grocery shopping frustration: out-of-stock items. By combining computer vision and predictive algorithms, the company is creating a more accurate real-time inventory system that benefits both shoppers and delivery workers. These innovations represent a significant advancement in how e-commerce platforms bridge the gap between digital shopping interfaces and physical store realities. How it works: Instacart's new Store View feature uses AI and computer vision to analyze footage of store shelves taken by delivery workers to identify what products are currently available. Eligible Instacart Shoppers can earn additional income by filming store...
read Mar 28, 2025How AI is transforming advertising, from airlines to retail, with measurable ROI and efficiency gains
Corporate marketers are leveraging artificial intelligence tools to create more effective advertising, optimize campaign performance, and better measure results. Nvidia's Jamie Allan, who works with adtech and digital marketing partners, sees AI creating a "flywheel" effect in the advertising ecosystem, where different technologies combine to transform how marketing teams operate. This evolution represents a significant shift in how brands connect advertising investments to business outcomes. The big picture: Major brands are implementing sophisticated AI systems that analyze vast datasets to prove marketing ROI and enhance campaign effectiveness. Delta Air Lines has deployed Alembic's spiking neural network technology to directly link...
read Mar 25, 2025Amazon drops Microsoft’s AI-ready Surface Laptop by $300 in spring sale
Amazon's latest deal drops Microsoft's 2024 Surface Laptop by $300, offering a premium AI-ready computing experience at a more accessible price point. This combination of powerful hardware, extended battery life, and integrated AI features makes it an attractive upgrade option for professionals seeking both performance and portability as AI-enhanced computing becomes increasingly mainstream. The big picture: Microsoft's 2024 Surface Laptop has received a significant price cut in Amazon's Spring Sale, dropping from $1,599.99 to $1,298.99 for a model with premium specifications. Key details: The 13.8-inch touchscreen laptop combines portability with substantial computing power, featuring 16GB of RAM and a 1TB...
read Mar 20, 202510 AI tools transforming hotels as most guests welcome smart hospitality
Dial "AI" for front desk... AI tools are transforming the hospitality industry, with over half of hotel guests believing artificial intelligence could improve their stay experience. This shift represents a fundamental evolution in how hotels operate—moving AI from a novelty to an essential component of modern hospitality management. As these technologies become more sophisticated, they offer hotels the ability to personalize guest experiences while simultaneously streamlining operations, creating a competitive advantage for properties that implement them effectively. 1. ClickUp This comprehensive hotel management platform uses AI to power task automation and workflow optimization, helping hotels manage everything from guest requests...
read Mar 20, 202575% of Gen Z car shoppers use AI to time their purchases, prefer in-vehicle tech connectivity
Gen Z's embrace of AI is reshaping automotive shopping patterns, as revealed in a new Salesforce study. This generation, born between 1997 and 2012, is applying their digital native status to vehicle purchasing decisions by leveraging artificial intelligence for timing and value optimization. Their tech-forward approach represents a significant shift in consumer behavior that automotive manufacturers are now racing to accommodate, with implications for everything from vehicle features to pricing models. The big picture: Three-quarters of Gen Z car shoppers are using AI to determine the optimal time to purchase a new vehicle, according to Salesforce research. This digitally savvy...
read Mar 19, 2025Midrange marvel: Google’s Pixel 9a brings flagship AI features at $499, challenging iPhone 16e
Google's newest midrange smartphone maintains its competitive $499 price point while delivering enhanced hardware and expanded AI capabilities, positioning it as a direct competitor to Apple's recently launched iPhone 16e. The Pixel 9a represents Google's strategy of democratizing premium features at accessible price points, challenging other midrange contenders from Nothing and Samsung while maintaining its focus on computational photography and AI integration. The big picture: Google's Pixel 9a arrives with the same $499 price tag as its predecessor despite significant hardware improvements and expanded AI capabilities. The timing—just one month after Apple's iPhone 16e announcement—suggests deliberate positioning against Apple's lower-cost...
read Mar 17, 2025Is the human touch a premium service? AI is reshaping customer interaction in a two-tiered direction
The AI revolution is reshaping customer service roles, creating a stark divide between human and automated touchpoints in post-sales interactions. SaaStr founder Jason Lemkin projects that by 2025, AI will handle virtually all support and customer success functions except those directly tied to revenue generation. This shift reflects a fundamental business prioritization where human attention is increasingly reserved exclusively for revenue-generating opportunities while routine customer interactions are automated. The big picture: Companies are rapidly deploying AI to handle the majority of customer support inquiries, with many businesses already seeing 40% or more of tickets resolved without human intervention. Major platforms...
read Mar 14, 2025Putting the AI in Wait Staff: How robots help restaurants restore service amid labor shortages
The hospitality industry is undergoing a significant transformation as robotics technology begins filling crucial service gaps exacerbated by post-pandemic labor shortages. Companies like Richtech Robotics are deploying AI-powered solutions that handle repetitive tasks traditionally performed by humans, potentially enabling a return to more personalized customer experiences by freeing staff from mundane duties. This shift represents not just an operational evolution but a reimagining of how technology and human service can complement each other in creating memorable dining experiences. The big picture: Restaurants are increasingly turning to robotics to address persistent staffing challenges while potentially improving the overall customer experience. The...
read Mar 13, 2025Patronus AI launches Gemini-powered tool to detect handcrafted hallucinations for Etsy
Patronus AI is revolutionizing AI evaluation with the launch of its multimodal large language model-as-a-judge technology, specifically designed to assess AI systems that process images and generate text. This innovation addresses critical challenges in detecting hallucinations and reliability issues in multimodal AI applications, with Etsy already implementing the technology to verify caption accuracy across its vast marketplace of handmade and vintage products. The big picture: Patronus AI has created Judge-Image, an industry-first evaluation tool built on Google's Gemini model to help developers ensure accuracy in AI-generated image captions and descriptions. The technology enables automatic evaluation of image captions based on...
read Mar 12, 2025Yo Quiero Taco Bell AI: Fast food icon embraces agentic automation
Agentic AI is moving from theoretical applications to real-world implementation in the fast food industry as YUM Brands unveils virtual management technology for Taco Bell restaurants. This significant development represents the next evolution of AI beyond generative chatbots, creating systems capable of handling complex, multi-step tasks with minimal human intervention. As a trillion-dollar industry driven by technological innovation, fast food is becoming a proving ground for AI that can make decisions, manage operations, and potentially reshape how restaurants function. The big picture: YUM Brands is deploying agentic AI restaurant managers across its Taco Bell franchise through its Byte By Yum...
read Mar 11, 2025Retailers racing to deploy AI while shoppers demand transparency
Time was when "auto mall" universally meant a veritable mall for automobiles. But it's transforming into a term for the automated mall experience, with both shoppers and merchants expecting to contend with AI in some form or another. A significant gap exists between retail customers and businesses regarding in-store AI implementation, though both groups recognize its potential benefits. The new Everseen survey reveals that while 65% of shoppers believe AI enhances retail convenience, 63% of retail managers view AI deployment as a competitive necessity. This alignment around AI's value comes as retailers accelerate adoption plans while navigating implementation challenges and...
read Mar 10, 2025AI is reshaping e-commerce shipping with predictive logistics solutions
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing e-commerce logistics by addressing critical shipping disruptions that plague retailers in today's complex supply chains. As customer expectations for delivery speed and reliability continue to rise, AI-powered tools are becoming essential for predicting problems, optimizing routes, and maintaining customer satisfaction. These technological advances are transforming what was once a reactive industry into one that can anticipate and prevent logistics challenges before they impact the consumer experience. The big picture: Major retailers are leveraging AI-driven systems to maintain competitive advantages in logistics and minimize shipping disruptions. Walmart utilizes Pactum, an AI-powered system that automates supplier negotiations, streamlining...
read Mar 7, 2025Samsung’s Bespoke AI Laundry Combo now 33% off during limited-time sale
Samsung's new Bespoke AI Laundry Combo is seeing significant discounts during the current Discover Samsung sale, offering consumers a chance to purchase advanced laundry technology at nearly one-third off its regular price. This all-in-one washer-dryer unit represents how smart home technology is evolving beyond convenience to incorporate energy efficiency and AI-driven optimization, addressing both environmental concerns and practical household needs. The deal specifics: Samsung's Bespoke AI Laundry Combo All-in-One is currently available for $2,199, a substantial reduction from its regular $3,324 price tag. This represents the fourth-lowest price tracked overall and the third-lowest price directly from Samsung. Buyers receive a...
read Mar 5, 2025Augmented retail: Google morphs online shopping with AI that visualizes clothing before you buy
Google is rapidly transforming search into a personalized shopping experience through AI-powered visual tools. The company's new features allow users to visualize clothing and makeup products before purchasing, addressing a common consumer pain point where shoppers struggle to find items matching their mental vision. These developments represent a significant evolution in Google's AI integration strategy, making online shopping more intuitive while keeping users within Google's ecosystem rather than navigating to specialized retailer sites. The big picture: Google has launched "vision match," an AI tool that generates images based on detailed clothing descriptions and then suggests similar purchasable items. Mobile users...
read