👨🏻💻 KFC Exploits Strange AI-Generated Fingers to Promote Its Nuggets
With a sharp sense of humor and a perfect understanding of web culture, KFC, in collaboration with advertising agency Leo Burnett, has turned AI's hand rendering flaws into a marketing asset to promote its Saucy Nuggets.
💡 The campaign was inspired by the many memes circulating on the internet, mocking AI's often clumsy attempts to faithfully reproduce the human anatomy, particularly hands and fingers. KFC saw these imperfections as a unique opportunity to connect with its customers in a humorous and relevant way, especially in the digital age where authenticity and ingenuity are particularly valued.
With a sharp sense of humor and a perfect understanding of web culture, KFC, in collaboration with advertising agency Leo Burnett, has turned AI's hand rendering flaws into a marketing asset to promote its Saucy Nuggets.
💡 The campaign was inspired by the many memes circulating on the internet, mocking AI's often clumsy attempts to faithfully reproduce the human anatomy, particularly hands and fingers. KFC saw these imperfections as a unique opportunity to connect with its customers in a humorous and relevant way, especially in the digital age where authenticity and ingenuity are particularly valued.
👥 Virtual Humans Helping Spur E-Commerce
An artificial intelligence-powered digital doppelganger of Liu Qiangdong, Chinese e-commerce giant JD's founder and chairman, appeared in two of the firm's livestreaming rooms in April to promote a variety of products including meats, edible oil, eggs, milk, air conditioners and televisions.
🧷 Powered by JD's large language model ChatRhino, the virtual avatar almost perfectly replicates Liu's facial expressions, body language, gestures, voice and accent, capturing even the subtlest movements of his fingers.
Nicknamed "procurement and sales manager Brother Dong", Liu's avatar generated over 20 million views within the first hour, and landed 50 million yuan ($6.9 million) in sales throughout the entire real-time broadcasted sessions.
An artificial intelligence-powered digital doppelganger of Liu Qiangdong, Chinese e-commerce giant JD's founder and chairman, appeared in two of the firm's livestreaming rooms in April to promote a variety of products including meats, edible oil, eggs, milk, air conditioners and televisions.
🧷 Powered by JD's large language model ChatRhino, the virtual avatar almost perfectly replicates Liu's facial expressions, body language, gestures, voice and accent, capturing even the subtlest movements of his fingers.
Nicknamed "procurement and sales manager Brother Dong", Liu's avatar generated over 20 million views within the first hour, and landed 50 million yuan ($6.9 million) in sales throughout the entire real-time broadcasted sessions.
🇩🇪 Over 50% of German Online Sales Via Marketplaces
Last year, more than half of all online sales in Germany were generated on marketplaces. Additionally, 55 percent of online sales in that country were carried out on smartphones. This corresponds to almost 47 billion euros in sales.
📊 These data come from the Online Monitor 2024, a report from Handelsverband Deutschland (HDE). Last year, the association predicted that ecommerce in Germany would reach 89.4 billion euros by the end of the year. This would be an increase of 5.8 percent compared to 2022.
Last year, more than half of all online sales in Germany were generated on marketplaces. Additionally, 55 percent of online sales in that country were carried out on smartphones. This corresponds to almost 47 billion euros in sales.
📊 These data come from the Online Monitor 2024, a report from Handelsverband Deutschland (HDE). Last year, the association predicted that ecommerce in Germany would reach 89.4 billion euros by the end of the year. This would be an increase of 5.8 percent compared to 2022.
👥 Visa and J.P. Morgan Strategic Relationship for Faster Payments
Visa and J.P. Morgan Payments have announced a strategic collaboration that aims to enhance merchant experiences and drive innovation for J.P. Morgan Payments’ customers by introducing faster domestic payments in the US, through the Visa Direct network.
🧷 With Visa Direct’s extensive reach in the US, J.P. Morgan Payments will enable merchants, businesses and fintech to embed faster domestic payments into their solutions, including its Push to Card payment rail, enabling fast and secure movement of funds directly to recipients’ bank accounts and digital accounts simply by leveraging the debit card credential.
Visa and J.P. Morgan Payments have announced a strategic collaboration that aims to enhance merchant experiences and drive innovation for J.P. Morgan Payments’ customers by introducing faster domestic payments in the US, through the Visa Direct network.
🧷 With Visa Direct’s extensive reach in the US, J.P. Morgan Payments will enable merchants, businesses and fintech to embed faster domestic payments into their solutions, including its Push to Card payment rail, enabling fast and secure movement of funds directly to recipients’ bank accounts and digital accounts simply by leveraging the debit card credential.
👨🏻💻 OpenAI Is Readying a Search Product to Rival Google, Perplexity
OpenAI is developing a feature for ChatGPT that can search the web and cite sources in its results, according to a person familiar with the matter, potentially competing head on with Alphabet Inc.’s Google and AI search startup Perplexity.
💬 The feature would allow users to ask ChatGPT a question and receive answers that use details from the web with citations to sources such as Wikipedia entries and blog posts, according to the person, who asked to remain anonymous discussing private information. One version of the product also uses images alongside written responses to questions, when they’re relevant. If a user asked ChatGPT how to change a doorknob, for instance, the results might include a diagram to illustrate the task, the person said.
OpenAI is developing a feature for ChatGPT that can search the web and cite sources in its results, according to a person familiar with the matter, potentially competing head on with Alphabet Inc.’s Google and AI search startup Perplexity.
💬 The feature would allow users to ask ChatGPT a question and receive answers that use details from the web with citations to sources such as Wikipedia entries and blog posts, according to the person, who asked to remain anonymous discussing private information. One version of the product also uses images alongside written responses to questions, when they’re relevant. If a user asked ChatGPT how to change a doorknob, for instance, the results might include a diagram to illustrate the task, the person said.
📈 US Retail E-Commerce Spending is on the Rise
In the first third of 2024, retail ecommerce spending grew 7% year over year in the U.S., according to new Adobe Analytics data.
📊 Adobe says its data is based on more than 1 trillion visits to U.S. retail ecommerce sites, 100 million SKUs and 18 product categories.
"In an unpredictable economic environment, the latest data from Adobe Analytics shows continued resilience in the digital economy, as consumers embrace new categories online,” said Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, in a statement. “Groceries is a standout, and Adobe expects that in the next three years, the category will be a dominant force in e-commerce that is on par with electronics and apparel in revenue share."
In the first third of 2024, retail ecommerce spending grew 7% year over year in the U.S., according to new Adobe Analytics data.
📊 Adobe says its data is based on more than 1 trillion visits to U.S. retail ecommerce sites, 100 million SKUs and 18 product categories.
"In an unpredictable economic environment, the latest data from Adobe Analytics shows continued resilience in the digital economy, as consumers embrace new categories online,” said Vivek Pandya, lead analyst at Adobe Digital Insights, in a statement. “Groceries is a standout, and Adobe expects that in the next three years, the category will be a dominant force in e-commerce that is on par with electronics and apparel in revenue share."
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🇨🇳 China's E-Commerce Giants Face a Delicate Balance
Quarterly earnings reports from Chinese e-commerce giants Alibaba and JD.com this week will be closely watched as barometers for the mood of consumers in the world's second-largest economy.
👥 Both firms, which combined account for about 69% of China's e-commerce market revenue, according to DBS estimates, have faced increasing competition in recent years from low-cost platforms, such as PDD Holding's Pinduoduo and ByteDance-owned Douyin.
Chinese consumers are seeking discounts and lower-cost shopping because of their cautious attitude toward spending after the COVID-19 pandemic amid lower economic growth and the slowdown in the property sector. Alibaba and JD.com have responded to this trend but they risk lower margins by doing so.
Quarterly earnings reports from Chinese e-commerce giants Alibaba and JD.com this week will be closely watched as barometers for the mood of consumers in the world's second-largest economy.
👥 Both firms, which combined account for about 69% of China's e-commerce market revenue, according to DBS estimates, have faced increasing competition in recent years from low-cost platforms, such as PDD Holding's Pinduoduo and ByteDance-owned Douyin.
Chinese consumers are seeking discounts and lower-cost shopping because of their cautious attitude toward spending after the COVID-19 pandemic amid lower economic growth and the slowdown in the property sector. Alibaba and JD.com have responded to this trend but they risk lower margins by doing so.
📊 Amazon Business Survey Finds Small Firms Investing in Digital Commerce
In a recent survey of small-business executives, Amazon Business found that many small firms are looking for growth through procurement technology investment and are worried about falling behind if they don’t adopt AI applications this year.
🏢 Small businesses involved in B2B ecommerce face multiple challenges in 2024, but nearly all of them feel positive overall about the economy, Amazon Business found in a recent survey.
93% of small businesses in the United States are "hopeful" about the state of economy this year, despite lingering concerns among many regarding inflation (50%), high operations and labor costs (42%) and supply chain distribution challenges (41%), Amazon Business found in the Small Business Survey of 450-500 small-business decision-makers.
In a recent survey of small-business executives, Amazon Business found that many small firms are looking for growth through procurement technology investment and are worried about falling behind if they don’t adopt AI applications this year.
🏢 Small businesses involved in B2B ecommerce face multiple challenges in 2024, but nearly all of them feel positive overall about the economy, Amazon Business found in a recent survey.
93% of small businesses in the United States are "hopeful" about the state of economy this year, despite lingering concerns among many regarding inflation (50%), high operations and labor costs (42%) and supply chain distribution challenges (41%), Amazon Business found in the Small Business Survey of 450-500 small-business decision-makers.
👥 Amazon to Invest $1.3 Billion in France, Create 3,000 Jobs
Amazon said on Monday it would invest more than 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in its French operations and create more than 3,000 permanent jobs in the country.
🗣 The French presidency had said on Sunday that Amazon and other companies, including GSK and Accenture, would announce investments worth billions as part of the country's annual "Choose France" event, which begins on Monday.
Amazon Web Services' (AWS) investment would increase cloud infrastructure in the Paris area to support France's flourishing generative AI opportunity, and logistics infrastructure in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, the company said in a statement.
Amazon said on Monday it would invest more than 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in its French operations and create more than 3,000 permanent jobs in the country.
🗣 The French presidency had said on Sunday that Amazon and other companies, including GSK and Accenture, would announce investments worth billions as part of the country's annual "Choose France" event, which begins on Monday.
Amazon Web Services' (AWS) investment would increase cloud infrastructure in the Paris area to support France's flourishing generative AI opportunity, and logistics infrastructure in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, the company said in a statement.
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💡 Otto is Outsourcing Part of Logistics to Poland
German ecommerce giant Otto has announced that it is outsourcing part of its own logistics. The Group is building a shipping center in Poland. From the new location, orders will be picked and shipped to German customers.
📌 The German Otto Group recently announced that its revenue dropped 9 percent in 2023, reaching 10.8 billion euros in total. At the same time, online department store Otto expanded the amount of marketplace partners by 33 percent, to more than 6,500. The company also announced that it was opening up the marketplace to European sellers.
German ecommerce giant Otto has announced that it is outsourcing part of its own logistics. The Group is building a shipping center in Poland. From the new location, orders will be picked and shipped to German customers.
📌 The German Otto Group recently announced that its revenue dropped 9 percent in 2023, reaching 10.8 billion euros in total. At the same time, online department store Otto expanded the amount of marketplace partners by 33 percent, to more than 6,500. The company also announced that it was opening up the marketplace to European sellers.
🏢 Small Businesses are Optimistic About 2024 E-Commerce Growth
As the mid-year approaches, U.S. small businesses are in an acceptable position to grow sales and expand ecommerce, says a new survey from Alibaba.com.
📊 The results, chronicled in Alibaba’s 2024 State of U.S. Buyers Survey, find that most small businesses are in a good mood and anticipating decent ecommerce performance.
"84% of companies have at least a cautiously optimistic outlook for this year, with 44% being very optimistic," according to the survey. "6% are pessimistic or very pessimistic about their online business growth this year."
As the mid-year approaches, U.S. small businesses are in an acceptable position to grow sales and expand ecommerce, says a new survey from Alibaba.com.
📊 The results, chronicled in Alibaba’s 2024 State of U.S. Buyers Survey, find that most small businesses are in a good mood and anticipating decent ecommerce performance.
"84% of companies have at least a cautiously optimistic outlook for this year, with 44% being very optimistic," according to the survey. "6% are pessimistic or very pessimistic about their online business growth this year."
💡 E-Commerce Company Amazon Infuses Rs 1,600 Crore Into India Entity
E-commerce firm Amazon has infused Rs 1,600 crore into its India entity, Amazon Seller Services, according to the regulatory filings. The funding comes at a time when the company sees meaningful progress in emerging geographies, including India, as it continues to expand its selection and features and move toward profitability.
🧷 The regulatory filings are dated 15 April. This is the second time in five months that Amazon has invested money into its India arm, Amazon Seller Services. Before this, Amazon has already infused over Rs 1,000 crore into its Indian entities this year. In February, its marketplace entity received Rs 830 crore. In January, Amazon invested Rs 350 crore in the entity running its fintech unit, Amazon Pay.
E-commerce firm Amazon has infused Rs 1,600 crore into its India entity, Amazon Seller Services, according to the regulatory filings. The funding comes at a time when the company sees meaningful progress in emerging geographies, including India, as it continues to expand its selection and features and move toward profitability.
🧷 The regulatory filings are dated 15 April. This is the second time in five months that Amazon has invested money into its India arm, Amazon Seller Services. Before this, Amazon has already infused over Rs 1,000 crore into its Indian entities this year. In February, its marketplace entity received Rs 830 crore. In January, Amazon invested Rs 350 crore in the entity running its fintech unit, Amazon Pay.
⚖️ Shopify Sues a Chinese Competitor for Software Infringement
Two large, public, and prominent ecommerce technology companies will soon square off in court over software copycat and infringement issues. Shopify Inc. has filed a lawsuit against a U.S. subsidiary of JOYY Inc.
📌 Shopify is an e-commerce platform developer and service provider. Joyy is a video-based social media platform that trades on NASDAQ.
The suit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York alleges that Shopline Commerce Pte. Ltd. and Shopline US Inc. created a copycat version of Dawn, Shopify’s computer program that enables the creation of customizable storefront templates.
Two large, public, and prominent ecommerce technology companies will soon square off in court over software copycat and infringement issues. Shopify Inc. has filed a lawsuit against a U.S. subsidiary of JOYY Inc.
📌 Shopify is an e-commerce platform developer and service provider. Joyy is a video-based social media platform that trades on NASDAQ.
The suit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York alleges that Shopline Commerce Pte. Ltd. and Shopline US Inc. created a copycat version of Dawn, Shopify’s computer program that enables the creation of customizable storefront templates.
💡 Temu Shifts Focus from US – but Air Cargo Still Bullish on E-Commerce
The net is tightening around China’s ecommerce platforms – the current drivers of air cargo. But despite signs of change, carriers remain committed to those volumes, and the expected Q4 peak.
🧷 About 25% of Americans use the Temu app, according to September data, but concern over possible restrictions by the US government – following the TikTok decision – is leading Temu to diversify into new markets.
Temu, which is catching more established players in the US, like Amazon and Walmart – and already is 20% bigger than Shein in the US – gets 42% of its business from the US, Mexico and Chile. But it is turning its attention to Europe, amid Washington data concerns and worries over the impact on US businesses, and wants to do so rapidly.
The net is tightening around China’s ecommerce platforms – the current drivers of air cargo. But despite signs of change, carriers remain committed to those volumes, and the expected Q4 peak.
🧷 About 25% of Americans use the Temu app, according to September data, but concern over possible restrictions by the US government – following the TikTok decision – is leading Temu to diversify into new markets.
Temu, which is catching more established players in the US, like Amazon and Walmart – and already is 20% bigger than Shein in the US – gets 42% of its business from the US, Mexico and Chile. But it is turning its attention to Europe, amid Washington data concerns and worries over the impact on US businesses, and wants to do so rapidly.
💡 TikTok Shop to Go Live in Continental Europe This Summer
TikTok is set to introduce its ecommerce activities in continental Europe soon. The company has started inviting merchants to beta-test in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. Launches in other European countries are likely to follow eventually.
🧷 This was reported by the South China Morning Post, based on several anonymous sources. They suggest an introduction in Western Europe in the upcoming summer. TikTok Shop is also said to be launching in Mexico soon.
TikTok is set to introduce its ecommerce activities in continental Europe soon. The company has started inviting merchants to beta-test in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. Launches in other European countries are likely to follow eventually.
🧷 This was reported by the South China Morning Post, based on several anonymous sources. They suggest an introduction in Western Europe in the upcoming summer. TikTok Shop is also said to be launching in Mexico soon.
📊 Under Armour Shares Restructuring Plan as Q4 and 2024 Revenue Decline
Under Armour Inc. reported that total revenue and ecommerce revenue both declined in its fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 ended March 31.
📉 Total revenue declined 5% to $1.3 billion year over year, the athletic apparel retailer said. Wholesale revenue declined 7% to $850 million, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) revenue was flat. Ecommerce revenue decreased 8%. Ecommerce sales made up 43% of total DTC sales in the quarter.
Meanwhile, revenue from stores owned and operated by Under Armour grew 7% year over year. The retailer reported net income of $7 million, and an operating loss of $4 million.
Under Armour Inc. reported that total revenue and ecommerce revenue both declined in its fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 ended March 31.
📉 Total revenue declined 5% to $1.3 billion year over year, the athletic apparel retailer said. Wholesale revenue declined 7% to $850 million, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) revenue was flat. Ecommerce revenue decreased 8%. Ecommerce sales made up 43% of total DTC sales in the quarter.
Meanwhile, revenue from stores owned and operated by Under Armour grew 7% year over year. The retailer reported net income of $7 million, and an operating loss of $4 million.
👥 Amazon Faces Investor Pressure Over AI Risks
Amazon has faced calls from investor Abrdn to step up monitoring its use of AI ahead of the retail and tech giant’s AGM this week.
🧷 Abrdn, one of the UK’s biggest fund managers that has a £1bn stake in the online retailer, has urged it to set up a committee of independent directors to deal with the impact of its AI usage on human rights
The investor is concerned about the risk of scandals or oversights at Amazon hitting its investment, according to The Sunday Times.
Amazon has faced calls from investor Abrdn to step up monitoring its use of AI ahead of the retail and tech giant’s AGM this week.
🧷 Abrdn, one of the UK’s biggest fund managers that has a £1bn stake in the online retailer, has urged it to set up a committee of independent directors to deal with the impact of its AI usage on human rights
The investor is concerned about the risk of scandals or oversights at Amazon hitting its investment, according to The Sunday Times.
📈 Romania’s E-Commerce Market Up 10% y/y to EUR 7 Bln in 2023
The value of goods purchased by Romanian customers from local and foreign online stores increased by 10% y/y to EUR 7 billion in 2023, according to the estimates of GPeC, ARMO, and the main players in the sector quoted by Profit.ro.
💬 This amount does not include the online purchase of services, utility bills, digital content or plane tickets, vacations and trips, hotel reservations, tickets to shows or various events. If we were to add these as well, the total value would exceed EUR 10 billion, according to a press release from the Romanian Association of Online Stores (ARMO).
Andrei Radu, GPeC CEO & Founder, estimates that the market may double in volume over the next ten years.
The value of goods purchased by Romanian customers from local and foreign online stores increased by 10% y/y to EUR 7 billion in 2023, according to the estimates of GPeC, ARMO, and the main players in the sector quoted by Profit.ro.
💬 This amount does not include the online purchase of services, utility bills, digital content or plane tickets, vacations and trips, hotel reservations, tickets to shows or various events. If we were to add these as well, the total value would exceed EUR 10 billion, according to a press release from the Romanian Association of Online Stores (ARMO).
Andrei Radu, GPeC CEO & Founder, estimates that the market may double in volume over the next ten years.