Simplisales, founded by Ihsan Diskan, provides B2B wholesalers with tools to thrive in e-commerce. Through an AI-powered platform, it eliminates manual order-taking with ERP-integrated apps and websites. Since launching, the company has attracted clients with annual sales up to €100M, achieving €20M GMV to date. Simplisales now connects 24/7 to clients’ ERP systems, updating inventory and custom pricing every five minutes. Diskan plans to add AI-driven marketing tools for cross-selling and upselling, positioning the company to meet high demand in a largely untapped B2B market.

San Francisco-based Coframe raised $9.3M from Khosla Ventures and NFDG. The startup’s AI platform optimizes websites, adjusting UX based on user behavior and boosting sales. In testing, Coframe achieved a 42% increase in click-through rates, with one segment seeing a 352% lift. Coframe partners with OpenAI to streamline code for personalized user interfaces.

Amazon’s Rufus AI shopping assistant, which supports search, comparisons, and recommendations, expands to Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Launched in the U.S. earlier this year, Rufus leverages Amazon’s data on customer reviews and product information to offer targeted recommendations. Shoppers can use the AI assistant through the latest Amazon app update. Amazon also announced investments of $230M to advance AI projects as it accelerates its presence in generative AI.

MediaMarktSaturn introduces a GenAI voicebot to its customer hotline. Launched in Germany in September, it's now being tested in Austria and the Netherlands, with a planned rollout in Spain by early 2025. The AI voicebot uses website FAQs to answer queries quickly, even outside normal hours, reducing wait times. The initiative is part of MediaMarktSaturn’s digital strategy to improve customer service efficiency. If the bot can't handle a request, calls are transferred to a human. Vice President Henny Steiniger says the goal is to offer innovative, always-available service.

autone has raised $17M in a Series A funding led by General Catalyst. The platform uses AI to optimize inventory management, helping retailers reduce inventory by 55% and increase sales by 30%. The funding will accelerate its US and European expansion, aiming to make inventory decisions more accurate and sustainable. Existing investors like Speedinvest, YCombinator, and business angels from LVMH and Moncler reinvested. autone works with 50 global brands and is positioning itself to tackle mid-market retail complexities by integrating data-driven insights and predictive analytics.

Alibaba’s international arm has launched a new version of its AI-powered translation tool, which it claims is superior to Google and ChatGPT. With 500K merchants using it across 15 languages, the tool is set to help sellers increase international sales.

Dave Clark, ex-Amazon CEO, raised $100M to start Auger, an AI-driven supply chain platform. Auger promises real-time insights and improved efficiency for businesses. Clark aims to fix inefficiencies he calls "human problems," like delays and high prices.

Pinterest unveils its new Performance+ Suite, blending AI and automation to supercharge ad campaigns. Prada saw a 64% CPA reduction, and Walgreens achieved 55% more clicks. The tools are available globally for advertisers in multiple markets.

TikTok has launched Smart+, an AI-powered advertising tool to optimize ad performance. The tool simplifies ad management, promising a 53% increase in return on ad spend. However, TikTok's legal issues in the US may impact its adoption.

OnBuy announces a strategic collaboration with Google Cloud to power international expansion. With Google Cloud’s Virtual Private Cloud and AI tools like Vertex AI, OnBuy will improve its marketplace efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and reduce costs globally.

London-based startup Ameba raised $7.1M led by Hedosophia to disrupt retail supply chains. Its AI-powered platform extracts unstructured data to predict disruptions, cut manual data input by 30%, and reduce inefficiencies. Co-founders Hoffmann and Massie bring experience from VALOREO and Palantir.

Amazon introduced 5 new visual tools for faster and more precise product searches. The company now allows text and image integration, showcases similar items, and highlights product videos, making searches 70% faster globally.

HubSpot unveils its new AI, Breeze, at INBOUND 2024, featuring Copilot, four Breeze Agents, and over 200 product updates. HubSpot also introduces agent.ai, a professional network for AI agents, with 47K users and 1,700 builders signed up.

Meta now lets businesses use AI chatbots on WhatsApp and Messenger for ad-embedded customer interactions, helping to increase sales. Despite Meta’s claim of improved engagement, many customers prefer human agents over AI chatbots.

Alibaba has launched over 100 new open-source AI models and introduced a text-to-video tool. The company aims to compete with giants like Baidu, Microsoft, and OpenAI. With 40M downloads of its models, Alibaba is intensifying its AI efforts.

Cavela's AI marketplace simplifies product sourcing for brands. With $2M funding from XYZ Venture Capital, the platform reduces supplier engagement from 1,000 to just 10 touchpoints and lowers sourcing costs by 40% on average.

Ecomtent, an AI-driven startup, raised $850K to help retailers optimize for AI-based search. Its technology enables faster content generation, increasing conversions by 30%. Founders Max Sinclair and Timur Luguev plan to expand operations after this funding.

Connectly.ai, a messaging-based e-commerce platform, raised $20M in a Series B led by Alibaba. The funds will fuel growth and expansion. Connectly’s revenue is projected to hit $7M this year after growing 5x last year.

Amazon has expanded its AI-powered assistant, Rufus, to the UK, offering customers a new way to shop. Initially rolled out to select users, Rufus answers questions, compares products, and enhances shopping experiences.

TikTok introduces a new AI-powered tool that lets users create a digital version of their own voice for voice-overs. Developed by parent company ByteDance, this feature is part of a broader AI push. The tool could save time and effort in content creation.

ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, is securing a $9.5B loan. Banks like Citigroup and Goldman Sachs are interested. ByteDance plans to invest in e-commerce, generative AI, and research while refinancing a $5B loan.

Similarweb has launched a new Rank Tracker feature that helps marketers and SEO professionals identify which keywords trigger Google's AI Overview. This AI-generated summary at the top of search results could change user behavior and search strategies. According to Baruch Toledano, VP at Similarweb, the tool is available for all SEO subscription tiers.

BigCommerce launched new tools like AI-powered product recommendations and B2B features, aiming to help brands globally. Updates include an enhanced visual editor, local payment options, and quicker checkout to boost sales by up to 200%.

Creatopy, an AI-driven ad creation startup from Romania, has raised $10M in Series A funding, led by 3VC and Point Nine. The platform, used by 5,000 brands and agencies, is focused on scaling and automating ad production. The company sees itself as a key player against competitors like Canva.

Fresha, a London-based beauty platform, raised €27.8M in venture debt from J.P. Morgan. This funding will enhance their AI and machine learning capabilities, fueling global expansion and helping beauty professionals offer tailored services.

China’s Cyberspace Administration approved 487 AI algorithms, including deepfake tools from Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, and foreign firms like HP. This marks the second-largest batch since regulations began in January 2023.

ASOS signed a 3-year deal with Microsoft to enhance AI in operations. The retailer will use tools like Power Automate and Microsoft Copilot to automate tasks and boost efficiency. This deal strengthens their AI Stylist feature, offering personalized shopping experiences.

Trivago has acquired a 30% stake in Holisto for $10M. Holisto uses AI to create hotel deals. Trivago can buy the remaining 70% within 15 months for up to $60M. Holisto, based in Israel, provides value to hotels by offering deals not available elsewhere. More details will be shared in Trivago's upcoming earnings call.

Ocula, an AI startup from Belfast, raised $4.2M in Series A funding led by Praetura Ventures, with Castelnau Group and Lloyds Banking Group participating. Founded in 2021, Ocula plans to triple its client base in two years.

dunnhumby launches AI-powered assortment tool on 1 July 2024. The tool helps retailers create localised product ranges, optimise shelf layouts, and streamline the ranging process. Tesco is already using this tool to improve customer experiences.

HyperFinity introduces an AI-driven pricing product that improves profit margins by over 5%. The tool provides retailers with vital insights for pricing decisions, replacing cumbersome spreadsheets and offering advanced analytics. Retailers like cardfactory benefit from these insights.

Mango's new campaign for its limited-edition teen line is AI-generated. The initiative is part of its 2026 strategic plan, focusing on technological development. Mango's CTO, Jordi Alex, highlights the innovation and creative amplification through AI.

Shopify launched its AI-powered Sidekick tools to more users. The tools, including chatbots and image editors, aim to attract more customers and boost revenue. The expansion follows a marketing push after recent stock value drops.

Amazon's AI tool improves ad click rates by 20%. Used by 30K European sellers, it creates complete ads. AI also aids in keyword research, product text writing, image optimization, and pricing. Dharmesh Mehta announced these advancements during his Munich visit on June 20.

Meta delays its AI launch in the EU due to Irish DPC's concerns over data privacy. Meta's global privacy policy director expresses disappointment, while privacy advocates call for stricter commitments.

At TikTok World 2024, the Symphony suite was launched. Symphony boosts purchase intent by 37% and brand favorability by 38%. TikTok's new AI tools, including Digital Avatars, enhance global reach and creative impact, empowering creators and brands.

Vestiaire Collective uses AI to launch Chinese, Dutch, and Swedish websites, expanding its global footprint and improving customer service. Demand in Hong Kong rose 208% over three years. New AI increases efficiency, accuracy, and growth in local markets.

Amazon extends its generative AI-powered product listings to sellers in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the U.K. The tools generate descriptions, titles, and details, speeding up the listing process. Over 30,000 sellers now use these tools.

Google AI Overviews, once visible on 84% of searches, now appear only 15% of the time. The reduction began in mid-April, coinciding with multiple instances of incorrect AI-generated answers.

Google’s AI overviews are disrupting ecommerce search visibility. Most overviews pull product data from non-ranking sources, creating new opportunities to optimize product pages for better visibility.

True Fit's new tool, Fit Hub, uses generative AI to help online shoppers find clothes that fit their body type. By analyzing size charts, descriptions, and reviews, it reduces return rates. Fit Hub is in beta and launches next month.

Douglas partners with Google Cloud to test a new AI Beauty Advisor chatbot. This chatbot provides personalized product recommendations and beauty tips. The current test phase is internal and focuses on improving customer experience.

GrubMarket has acquired Butter, a four-year-old AI company, to enhance its ecommerce and payment solutions. Butter's AI tools will integrate with GrubMarket's existing products, aiming to improve services for food distributors. Butter has raised $39M and has 11,000 buyers.

LVMH strengthens its partnership with Alibaba to redefine luxury retail in China. Leveraging Alibaba's AI and cloud technologies, LVMH aims to enhance customer experiences and streamline operations. The partnership, starting in 2019, now covers over 30 brands and includes new AI capabilities like Qwen and Bailian.

Kudos, an AI-driven smart wallet, raises $10M to enhance credit card optimization for rewards. The company grew from 1,000 beta testers to 200,000 users since 2022. Investors include QED Investors, Patron, and others.

Meta's enhanced generative AI tools now offer full image and text generation for advertisers. These features help businesses create creative variations and automate ad creation, improving performance. New text overlay and image expansion tools are also included.

AI companies in China, like Silicon Intelligence, offer digital avatars to help mourners talk to deceased loved ones. This technology has become more affordable, with prices dropping from $2,000 to a few hundred dollars. Ethical and emotional debates continue.

Reebok unveils an AI-driven fashion experience on Instagram called 'Reebok Impact.' Users can create custom digital sneakers by sending a photo via DM. This feature is free for up to four creations, usable in games like Fortnite and Roblox.

Dr. Carina Popovici used AI to find 40 fake paintings on eBay, including a Monet priced at $599K and a Renoir at $165K. She believes this is just the tip of the iceberg. eBay claims to use AI to block counterfeit items but has not responded to her concerns.

Amazon commits to investing $1.3B in France, creating 3,000 jobs. This move aligns with France's AI growth, supported by AWS's cloud infrastructure expansion in Paris.