MealMe raised $8M in Series A funding, bringing its total to $16M. Founded as a consumer app in 2019, MealMe has transitioned into a B2B API provider, powering food and retail ordering within apps. The API connects over 1M stores and restaurants across the U.S. and Canada. The company plans to expand into broader e-commerce and AI. Investors include Mercury Fund, Gaingels, and Palm Drive Capital.

Optiwise.ai raised $2.4M in seed funding to expand Olivia, an AI assistant designed to enhance listings and ads for Walmart Marketplace sellers. Olivia analyzes product listings, offers tailored keyword and pricing suggestions, and even adapts content from Amazon for Walmart. The funding will support Olivia's growth and enable sellers to maximize holiday sales. StartupXseed Ventures led the funding, betting on Optiwise.ai’s ability to transform Walmart sales through AI-powered automation. With Optiwise.ai’s integrated strategy, sellers are set for increased conversions and smoother compliance with Walmart standards.

Unilever’s investment in AI for beauty is paying off, creating immersive experiences for users while boosting sales. In the U.S., Dove’s AI-powered Scalp and Hair Therapist, launched in March, gives scalp-care advice with scientifically-backed responses. BeautyHub Pro, available in Asia, has attracted 3M+ users with selfie-based recommendations. Customers getting AI-driven suggestions are 43% more likely to buy, with basket values up 39%. Despite success, Unilever faces challenges in AI accuracy and reliability, plus layoffs of 3.2K roles by 2025 amid shareholder pressure.

Luxury retailer Harrods has launched an e-commerce platform with Scayle, aiming to provide seamless luxury shopping across the globe. With custom landing pages, product management tools, and integrated ERP, Harrods targets the US and Middle East. Caitlin Innes, Harrods' digital chief, praises Scayle's ability to manage categories globally and their quick, successful migration. Upcoming upgrades include a mobile app and a multi-channel, global rollout.

Sensei, a Portuguese startup, raised $16.2M to expand its contactless store platform. Led by BlueCrow Capital, this Series A round aims to support 1,000 autonomous points of sale by 2026 across Europe, with a focus on central and northern regions.

Bausch + Lomb launched Opal, a digital marketplace for contact lenses, aiming to simplify ordering and improve patient experience. The platform allows 24/7 ordering, integrates loyalty rewards, and offers free shipping for practices and patients.

Facebook launches Local and Explore tabs to connect users with local content and interests. Messenger Communities aim to help small groups interact. AI tools like Comment Summaries enhance user experience. Tests roll out in 10 U.S. cities.

General Motors is converting OnStar into an e-commerce platform. It will offer Super Cruise plans, auto insurance, SiriusXM, and accessories. This shift aims to streamline shopping for services with a responsive, flexible system.

Serve Robotics has introduced its third-gen robots for Uber Eats. These bots are faster, carry 15% more, and run for six more hours daily. The company plans to roll out 250 units in L.A. by Q1 2025, aiming for $60M–$80M in revenue.

Zalando enhances its virtual fitting room with 3D avatars, allowing customers to try on Levi’s clothes with accurate body measurements. Available in 14 countries, this tech promises a 40% drop in return rates.

Snapchat launches Snap Street, an AR-powered shopping experience on 19 and 20 October in London. Partnering with Boots and Depop, they aim to blend digital and physical retail. Visitors can test makeup, play games, and win prizes.

OnBuy, a UK-based e-commerce marketplace, will expand to 14 EU countries by 2024, and enter North America in 2025. With a £2.5M investment and a Google Cloud partnership, OnBuy aims for 10x growth, offering cashback and a customer-first experience.

Amazon is joining the nuclear energy race alongside Google and Microsoft. The tech giant has signed deals to develop several small modular reactors (SMRs), aiming to meet its carbon-neutral target by 2040 while supporting the growing energy demands of AI. The company’s agreements include partnerships with Energy Northwest and Dominion Energy. This shift reflects Big Tech’s response to rising carbon footprints from AI-driven data centers, which could account for 9% of U.S. electricity by 2030.

Amazon Ads unveiled AI Creative Studio and Audio Generator at unBoxed 2024. These tools simplify ad creation by using AI to generate content, from images to audio, in minutes. Early users saw a 5% sales increase from AI-powered ads.

OroCommerce launched AI SmartAgent and SmartOrder to revolutionize B2B sales. These tools enhance the customer experience by automating catalog navigation and offline purchase orders, improving speed and accuracy.

Otto Group will deploy Boston Dynamics' Spot and Stretch robots in over 30 locations, focusing on automating logistics. This partnership aims to enhance operational efficiency and ease labor shortages in the e-commerce giant's warehouses.

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.

The US government is considering dismantling Google after it was found guilty of violating antitrust laws. The Department of Justice may recommend separating its search engine from Android, Chrome, and Play Store.

Google updates AI-powered tools in Search, making it easier to find information visually, by video, and voice. Lens now handles 20B visual searches monthly. AI Overviews and voice search boost satisfaction and engagement.

Sam’s Club will open its first-ever checkout-free store in Grapevine, Texas on Oct. 17, 2024. Shoppers will use the Scan & Go app for purchases, marking a shift in the retailer’s tech-driven strategy. CEO Chris Nicholas highlighted the move to eliminate friction for customers.

Amazon has introduced AI Shopping Guides on its mobile app and website, offering customers tailored product recommendations. The guides cover 100+ categories like TVs and headphones, using reviews and price data to help buyers find the best fit for their needs.

Walmart is enhancing its AI strategy, aiming to create personalized shopping experiences. By late 2025, every shopper will see a unique homepage, powered by Walmart’s Wallaby AI and content prediction tools. This plan includes augmented reality and AI search assistants to make the customer journey faster and more immersive, both online and in-store.

Amazon shut down three Go stores in New York, leaving 17 Go locations in the U.S. The company has cut its Go stores nearly by half since 2023. Despite this, Amazon continues licensing its Just Walk Out tech to third-party shops.

Zalando rolls out its AI-powered assistant to 25 markets, offering local language support. Trend Spotter adds Amsterdam, London, Warsaw, and Zurich to help customers discover emerging styles in 10 European fashion capitals.

eBay’s AI-powered Magical Bulk Listing Tool speeds up product listings by auto-filling titles and categories using images. Starting with sports trading cards, eBay plans to expand to other categories soon.

Grubhub’s campus dining tech, linked to over 360 colleges, now serves 4.5M students. It offers robot delivery, reusable containers, and Amazon's Just Walk Out tech at select schools, enhancing convenience and sustainability in college dining.

Amazon introduces Project Amelia, an AI assistant for sellers, starting in the U.S. The tool helps sellers manage and grow their businesses by answering questions about sales metrics and customer traffic. Available now in beta.

Depop launched an AI tool that generates a complete listing from a single photo. The new feature adds item details like brand and color automatically. Depop's AI integration aims to boost second-hand shopping efficiency.

Google expanded its AI-powered virtual try-on tool to include dresses, supporting brands like Boden and Sandro. Dresses are more complex than tops, so Google developed new technology to provide lifelike, detailed virtual experiences.

Shein is looking for Polish IT experts for its new Warsaw team. The brand plans to hire 10 employees as part of its Europe Technology Centre. This follows Shein's rapid expansion in Poland, with warehouses and teams already in place.

GoDaddy's new AI-driven Digital Marketing tools help small businesses manage SEO, social media, and email marketing. With tools like Airo Assistant and a unified inbox, entrepreneurs can efficiently attract customers and grow their business.

Grubhub introduces new app features, including priority delivery for $2.49, personalized recommendations, and live tracking on iOS devices. These updates aim to enhance user experience and increase order frequency.

eBay's Q2 2024 saw a 12% growth in first-party ad revenue, driven by 1 billion promoted listings. eBay revamped its ad platform, simplifying ad creation and offering new tools like Promoted Offsite, helping sellers tap into broader audiences.

Alibaba is launching an AI-powered engine to simplify B2B sourcing. The tool, debuting in September, aims to help SMBs by providing faster and easier searches for business partners and products. The AI will enhance business deals by leveraging 25 years of expertise.

Sam’s Club launched display ads in its app’s Scan & Go feature to connect digital media with in-store shopping. Ads will appear on the cart page, helping track member behavior and ad performance. The tool will roll out to all members soon.

Bigbasket, owned by Tata, launches BB Matrix, a SaaS platform to help mid-to-large companies in various industries modernize supply chains. They plan to target automotive and electronics manufacturing, aiming for both Indian and global markets.

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.

Amazon is set to unveil Metis, its new AI chatbot, in September 2024. The chatbot, powered by the Olympus AI model, aims to surpass existing models like ChatGPT in functionality. Metis will feature capabilities in conversational engagement, information retrieval, and image generation. It is part of Amazon's broader AI strategy led by Rohit Prasad, with CEO Andy Jassy actively involved. Industry analysts are keenly watching this launch.

Amazon has launched new features for its B2B customers: an integrated quoting tool for bulk orders and a "one-stop shop" app hub. These tools aim to simplify cost analysis, bid selection, and resource management for businesses.

Shein partners with NTX to use AI for faster fashion production. New designs can be launched in 7 days, with delivery in 5 days. The eco-friendly Cooltrans technology reduces environmental impact and speeds up the entire process.

Walmart Data Ventures launched Digital Landscapes, a tool inside its Luminate platform, to help suppliers track online shopper behavior. This beta launch on June 5 will enable better marketing and sales strategies, with general availability expected this summer.

Mastercard and PayEye launch a three-month pilot for biometric payments at Empik stores in Poland. The innovative system uses iris and facial recognition. Poland's advanced payment infrastructure and high biometric usage rate make it an ideal testing ground.

Newegg's new SellingPilot platform offers sellers tools for managing listings on Amazon, Walmart, and more. Key features include AI-powered product listings, influencer marketing, and price tracking. The platform aims to streamline operations and boost sales.

Domino's, led by CEO Russell John Weiner, uses AI to start making pizzas before customers order them. This innovation aims to speed up delivery and improve efficiency. The company is also partnering with Microsoft to enhance their AI capabilities.

Michael Kors introduces AI retail assistant, 'Shopping Muse,' on its website. Partnering with Dynamic Yield, it increases conversion rates by 15-20%. CEO Ori Bauer praises the innovation as a perfect example of ready-to-use tech in fashion.

eBay launched an AI tool for background enhancement on June 5, 2024. The tool, available for iOS users in the U.S., U.K., and Germany, lets sellers replace image backgrounds with AI-generated ones. This feature helps improve photo quality and follows similar moves by Amazon and Google. Android rollout is planned soon.

Hugo Boss XP, a new tech-based loyalty program, launches in the UK next month. It combines traditional loyalty features with blockchain and Web3 elements, allowing members to collect and trade NFTs. The program aims to enhance customer engagement and lifetime value.

At Shopware's Community Day in Schöppingen on May 16, 2024, Co-CEO Sebastian Hamann revealed AI and 3D features. 1,500 attendees saw demos of the Scene Editor, AI Copilot, and Immersive Elements. New B2B tools like Sales Agent were also introduced to enhance sales processes.

BigCommerce launched an open-source Buyer Portal on May 7, 2024, allowing B2B brands to create tailored buyer experiences. This move aims to reduce development costs and time, offering streamlined services and faster time-to-market. The portal supports localized experiences and automates administrative processes.

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.