A proposed class action just accused major retailers like BP and Walmart of using Kalibrate's AI pricing software to illegally coordinate gas prices across California. Plaintiffs claim the algorithm drove pump prices about 30 cents per gallon higher than normal competition would allow, triggering California's newly enacted algorithmic antitrust law.
OpenAI just expanded its Agentic Commerce Protocol to turn ChatGPT into a visual shopping hub, letting you compare products side-by-side and upload photos to track down similar items. Major retailers like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart are already plugged in, with Walmart rolling out a dedicated in-ChatGPT app with account linking.
Google just introduced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), an open standard co-developed with Walmart and Shopify to let AI agents handle the entire shopping journey. The protocol introduces native Google Pay checkout inside Search and Gemini, basically turning conversational AI into an autonomous buyer. For now, agentic checkout is rolling out to eligible U.S. retailers.
Google just unveiled a new hardware lineup built specifically for Gemini, including 2K HDR Nest Cams, a video doorbell, and a redesigned Google Home Speaker. The upgraded cameras use multimodal AI to describe events and let users search video history via natural language. The cameras launch immediately, while the $99.99 speaker arrives in spring 2026.
PayPal just hired former Walmart executive Srini Venkatesan as its new Chief Technology Officer to oversee AI, machine learning, and data science across its ecosystem. Venkatesan officially steps in on June 24, succeeding Archie Deskus. It marks a major milestone in CEO Alex Chriss's strategy to turn 2024 into a transition year focused on AI personalization.
Nvidia just launched three new retail AI workflows designed to help stores combat shrinkage and theft. Built on its Metropolis microservices, the tools use computer vision to recognize high-theft items like steak and alcohol, track moving products across multiple cameras without biometric data, and analyze foot traffic. Why it matters: With retail theft topping $100 billion, Nvidia is turning security cameras into intelligent, privacy-conscious loss-prevention systems.
