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Byte-Sized AI is a bi-weekly column that covers all things artificial intelligence—from startupfunding, to newly inked partnerships, to just-launched, AI-powered capabilities from major retailers, software providers and supply chain players.
Walmart introduces new AI tools for marketplace sellers, partners with OpenAI for employee training
Retail giant Walmart announced during its annual marketplace seller event that it has launched several new AI-powered capabilities aimed at helping third-party sellers with their business on Walmart Marketplace.
The company said that it will now allow third-party sellers to access an AI-powered listing tool and smart assistant, which will help them list single or bulk items more effectively. The listing tool, it said, should help shorten the time to market for product listings and increase conversion rates. Meanwhile, the assistant can provide real-time support to sellers 24/7.
What’s more, Walmart has enabled a tool that allows self-fulfilling sellers to update delivery date promises automatically based on the region the consumer ordering their product lives in. It said this will create a more streamlined experience for end customers.
Manish Joneja, senior vice president, Walmart U.S. Marketplace and Walmart Fulfillment Services said the technology upgrades are just one way the company continues to serve its third-party sellers.
“Walmart has become one of the fastest-growing eCommerce platforms by focusing on what matters most: integrity, seller success and delivering exceptional experiences for customers,” Joneja said in a statement. “Everything we’re building—from smarter tools to expanded fulfillment and global reach—is designed to accelerate seller growth and empower sellers to serve customers while driving their businesses forward.”
Separately, Walmart has been brewing up a new strategy internally for its employees. The Bentonville, Ark.-based giant announced Thursday that it has inked a partnership with OpenAI on AI-based training and upskilling for corporate employees.
Donna Morris, Walmart’s chief people officer, announced the update in an internal memo to employees, which the company shared publicly.
“Beginning next year, U.S. frontline and office-based associates will have access to cutting-edge AI training through a new collaboration with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT,” Morris wrote in her memo. “They’re launching a new OpenAI Certifications program, and we’re working with them to create a customized experience for you.”
Morris said employees will soon be able to access a “tailored version” of the OpenAI certification she referenced. She said completing the certification will “help [employees] at work and in [their] personal life in an increasingly digital world.”
The upskilling move from Walmart comes not long after the company announced that it will move forward with using super agents to aid its corporate employees in carrying out their day-to-day work. Walmart already employs AI agents to tackle specific tasks on behalf of the company, but soon, employees will be able to interface with fewer agents, making it easier to rely on AI and integrate it into their workflow. Walmart may be trying to help its employees better understand conversational AI while its technology teams work on the super agents behind the scenes.
Nvidia partners with Intel spinout to accelerate physical AI
RealSense, an Intel spinout, announced late last month that it has started a collaboration with technology giant Nvidia.
RealSense makes parts that better enable autonomous mobile (AMRs), including humanoid robots, as well as other hardware that relies on physical AI systems under the hood. Its depth cameras, which, when paired with AI and machine learning algorithms, help robots make decisions in their respective environments, are already deployed in more than half of the world’s AMRs and humanoids.
The new collaboration will see RealSense integrating multiple Nvidia platforms into those depth cameras. The spinout will leverage Nvidia’s Jetson Thor robot “brain” for humanoids; Nvidia Isaac Sim, which uses digital twin technology to more rapidly train robots and Nvidia Holoscan Sensor Bridge, which allows for real-time data and sensor streaming. The two technology companies said that combining their respective expertise will help robotics developers “shorten time to market, discover new applications and scale safely into production.”
AMRs and humanoids have strong applications in warehouses, unloading docks and distribution centers for e-commerce operations. Already, some logistics players, like GXO and Amazon, have started testing humanoids for continued use in their facilities and operations.
Nadav Orbach, CEO of RealSense, said the collaboration marks another milestone for the company, which announced in July that it had secured $50 million in funding from Intel Capital and MediaTek Innovation Fund.
“This initiative cements RealSense’s role as the perception platform of choice for AMRs and humanoids,” said Nadav Orbach, CEO of RealSense. “By providing native integration and performance optimizations with Nvidia Thor and Holoscan Sensor Bridge, we are accelerating the mainstream adoption of physical AI. Together, we are enabling the robotics industry to unlock the extraordinary potential of physical AI and drive the future of intelligent machines.”
Selectika inks partnership with Kenneth Cole Productions
AI vendor Selectika announced in a LinkedIn post last week that it has started working with Kenneth Cole Productions. The technology company offers AI-based tools for visual discovery, merchandising, personalization and in-store experience upgrades.
Selectika’s post said that Kenneth Cole Productions plans to leverage its e-commerce capabilities and made particular note of its recommendation and personalization technology.
“With our visual AI recommendation technology, we’re bringing that same spirit of [entrepreneurial] innovation to their online store. It will help customers navigate vast catalogues by offering personal and relevant recommendations—boosting engagement and making it easier to discover what they love!” Selectika wrote in the post.
The company did not make it immediately clear which specific tools Kenneth Cole Production will use, but its site notes that its personalization offerings include a tool that helps consumers find the best size and an AI-powered chatbot that can interpret customer intent and assist with the shopping journey as a consumer browses a brand or retailer’s site. Selectika also offers tools that help customers “shop the look,” “complete the look” or shop similar items, helping retailers and brands to upgrade their recommendation capabilities.
According to its website, Selectika also counts JD Sports, Guess, DKNY and Aldo amongst its customers.
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