Startup New Generation, or simply New Gen, is building AI storefronts – versions of brands’ websites that dynamically interact with AI chatbots and agents. Its technology helps brands automate product tagging, personalize responses and adapt to real-time market trends. To build the AI storefront, New Gen creates an “AI subdomain” — a dedicated microsite such as “ai.brand.com” designed to receive AI-driven traffic from tools like ChatGPT or website-browsing agents like Operator. Their system reindexes a brand’s entire product catalog, combines structured and unstructured data such as product descriptions and social media posts, and uses AI models to create dynamic product pages and recommendations. This data pipeline is available through an API for other companies to access. For image generation, New Gen uses Gemini 2.5. For prose and copy, the team relies on Anthropic’s Claude 4. For code and front-end generation, OpenAI’s models are preferred. Brands can control the experience through a merchant dashboard, setting preferences for tone of voice, which products to highlight, and seasonal merchandising strategies. Over time, the AI storefronts would integrate with marketplaces such as Shopify or WooCommerce. New Gen has partnered with Visa as part of the payments giant’s Intelligent Commerce initiative to enable AI agents to make purchases on behalf of consumers.
Carvel to kick of summer promotion with first-of-its-kind dispenser billboard offering ice cream and free sprinkles for loyalty members
Fans of Carvel ice cream located in New York City will be able to get a free treat from a very special source on Wednesday, June 18. The soft serve ice cream chain, a subsidiary of GoTo Foods, will serve its product directly from what it is calling a first-of-its kind interactive billboard on Perry Street in New York City’s West Village on June 18 from noon to 7 p.m. EDT. All consumers can receive a free vanilla soft serve while supplies last. Members of the Carvel Fudgie Fanatics loyalty program will also receive free sprinkles on their ice cream. The retailer will also give the first 50 loyalty members who show up exclusive gifts like t-shirts and Carvel gift cards. Consumers can sign up to be a member of Fudgie Fanatics before June 18 for free on the Carvel site or on the spot at the billboard. All attendees will have the chance to participate in special giveaways and surprises throughout the day. All Carvel locations nationwide will offer a “buy one get one free” sundae or ice cream on Wednesdays throughout the summer, starting June 18. A dispenser billboard typically refers to a billboard or advertising display that incorporates a physical dispenser mechanism, allowing it to dispense samples, coupons, brochures, or small products to passersby.
Walmart’s interactive job simulations tool for veterans gives them the ability to virtually try out their skills in real-life scenarios and simulate the experience of working in a corporate environment
Walmart has unveiled a new skills translator tool specifically designed to let veterans upload their resumes, which are then translated into professional skills that align with its needs, such as logistics planning, GPS routing and inventory control. Walmart is also providing veterans with a new interactive job simulations solution that gives them the ability to virtually try out their skills in real-life scenarios and see what it’s like working in a corporate environment. So far in 2025, Walmart has invested $500,000 in events that mark the 250th anniversary of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. These donations support initiatives like the Revolutionary War Exhibit at the Museum of the Army commemorating the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday in 2025 and the celebration of Declaration of Independence in 2026. Walmart will also join the Navy and Marine Corps to commemorate their 250th birthdays in Philadelphia and in Camden, N.J. in October 2025. In addition, the company is funding a series of veteran-focused projects through the Manufacturing Institute, Hire Heroes USA and the Institute for Veteran and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University. Each organization is working to help veterans get credit for the skills they acquired in the military as they transition to civilian life. Julie Gehrki, senior VP and president, Walmart Foundation said, “By investing in tools for the military community and supporting leading organizations, we’re ensuring veterans have the support and opportunities they need to succeed in their post-military careers.”
Walmart is rolling out a new design for Onn 4K Pro, the retailer’s competition to the Google TV Streamer
Walmart is rolling out a new design for Onn 4K Pro, the retailer’s competition to the Google TV Streamer, at least for the box it comes in. The Onn 4K Pro launched last year as what was, at the time, the best Google TV streaming device on the market. More horsepower, a backlit remote, and more made the device appealing, and all the more so at a price tag of just under $50. In the time since, the $30 Onn 4K Plus has launched with similar experience and, also, a new design language for the packaging in line with Walmart’s ever-changing Onn brand. Onn 4K Pro is now getting the same treatment. Gone is the punch-you-in-the-face neon yellow box we’ve known, with Walmart instead giving the Google TV streamer a blue packaging design. Not a ton has changed, but the new design does better emphasize the hands-free voice control – “Hey Google” – support than the previous design did. This is purely a packaging change, from the looks of it. Walmart even says that it’s the “same great streaming device,” just with a “new look.” The design of the device itself is also unchanged.
Temu reportedly loses 58% of US daily users due to tariffs
Daily U.S. users of PDD Holdings’ global discount e-commerce platform Temu fell by 58% in May, according to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, one of many headwinds the e-retailer is facing amid a U.S.-China trade war. Temu decided to slash ad spending in the U.S. and shift its order fulfilment strategy after the White House on May 2 ended the practice known as “de minimis” – which allowed Chinese companies to ship low-value packages to the United States tariff-free. Tariffs forced both Temu and Shein to raise prices, but Shein has been able to increase the amount of money spent per customer compared to a year ago, while Temu has struggled. Engagement on Temu has dropped significantly following the end of the exemption, Morgan Stanley equity analyst Simeon Gutman said. “While the tariff environment is uncertain, if the status quo remains for an extended period, we believe Temu’s competitive threat will continue to weaken,” Gutman said. Temu continues to handle fulfilling orders close to shoppers, setting prices and online operations., HSBC said that Temu’s growth in non-U.S. markets has picked up, with non-U.S. users rising to 90% of its 405 million global monthly active users in the second quarter. “New user uptick grew swiftest in less affluent markets,” analysts wrote.
Ad-enabled BNPL Zilch partners Visa to launch its first physical payments card to capture latent opportunity in transaction volume by irregular usage of mobile wallets by ~80% UK adults
BNPL firm Zilch is launching a physical card as part of a partnership with Visa. The card will work across Visa’s global network that reaches over 150 million merchant locations in 200+ countries and territories. Customers will have the ability to shop anywhere in the world that Visa is accepted, online or offline with the same flexible repayment options. Available to existing customers from September, Zilch hopes the card will see the 50% of active customers who currently only use it for online shopping make the offline leap. Philip Belamant, CEO, Zilch, says: “By partnering with Visa – a global leader in payments – we’ve plugged our AI-driven engine into a network that touches over 150 million merchants worldwide. This move will allow us to fully deploy our ad-enabled payments technology across both digital and physical retail, bringing measurable savings to consumers and margin efficiencies to merchants.”
OatFi building a credit network to address the opposing cash flow conundrum in B2B payments by embedding its underwriting, origination, and funding capabilities directly into the platforms within their AP, AR, and commercial charge card workflows
Fintech infrastructure startup OatFi has raised $24 million in Series A funding to build a credit network for business-to-business payments. In traditional B2B transactions, buyers and suppliers often operate on opposing cash flow incentives. Suppliers seek fast post-delivery payments to recover working capital, while buyers look to delay payments to preserve operating cash and liquidity. By embedding its underwriting, origination, and funding capabilities directly into B2B payment platforms within their AP, AR, and commercial charge card workflows, OatFi’s APIs enable platforms to facilitate B2B transactions with built-in financing at the point where it’s needed most. “B2B payments are not just a money movement challenge—they’re a data and workflow challenge,” says Michael Barbosa, CEO, OatFi. “That’s why we’ve focused on deep API integrations that offer working capital solutions within the platforms that businesses already rely on to pay and get paid.”
Drive-thru users prioritize order accuracy as the most critical feature they want from the experience
Grabbing food from the drive-thru is the top preference for consumers when it comes to visiting quick-serve chains. 54% of customers said they “always” or “very often” choose drive-thrus over dining inside at QSRs, according to a new survey from Mood Media, signaling a strong preference for convenience. Order accuracy was ranked as the most critical drive-thru feature, while 73% respondents ranked timeliness among their top three most important drive-thru features, with more than half putting it squarely in slots two or three. While 23% of customers say technology is the most important drive-thru feature, 21% rank it second-to-last, showing that it can be “polarizing” among guests. Only 5% of respondents ranked mobile ordering as the most important feature for drive-thrus to have. However, 38% regularly use mobile ordering when it is offered. 72% of consumers do not decide to visit a QSR based on the digital features in their drive-thru. However, 92% of respondents have a neutral to positive sentiment about digital features enhancing their experience at QSRs. 82% are neutral or positive about QSRs collecting data to deliver personalized offers and recommendations. 60% ranked human interaction between third and fifth in importance, showing that customers still value friendly service. When it comes to what consumers don’t like about drive-thrus, long wait times (64%), inaccurate orders (58%) and outdated or unclear speaker systems (47%) top the list. Millennials and Gen Z are the most frequent drive-thru users, as 65% said they “always” or “very often” use them. Four-in-10 consumers say they are uninterested or concerned about AI taking their order, while 47% are open to it or have used it with little to no issue. The main concerns include AI not understanding them (37%) and not allowing order changes (24%).
Target looking to use large-format store to accommodate a bigger-than-average fresh and frozen food and beverage section, including organic produce options and back-room fulfillment space to support shoppers’ digital orders and Drive Up and Order Pickup
Target recently opened a new large-format store in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area at 2755 West University Drive in Denton, Texas. The Denton North store marks the second Target location for the Denton community. At about 147,000 square feet, Denton North is one of Target’s biggest new builds — and an example of what’s to come as the retailer focuses on these large-format stores. With its extra space, Denton North can accommodate a bigger-than-average fresh and frozen food and beverage section, including organic produce options, bakery and deli. Helping to keep the store in stock is Target’s Dallas sortation center and Denton food and beverage supply chain facility, the latter of which serves 158 Target stores in Texas. “We can show up for guests for all their grocery needs, where they don’t have to look at a competitor,” said Store Director LaShon H. “We can be their one and only, from fresh produce to amazingly priced meats. Everything is affordable, and then joy can be given when you walk through the departments in our store. [It has guests saying] ‘This is bright, this is big. I’m glad you’re on this side of town.’” More square footage also means room for a back-room fulfillment space, which is about five times larger than Target’s older stores of a similar size, to support shoppers’ digital orders and Drive Up and Order Pickup same-day services. The company expects to add more than 300 stores over the next decade, with a total of 20 openings slated for 2025
PayPal’s Deal Week rewards program to let customers earn up to 10% cashback on in-store payments at 2,000 partner locations with offers recuring every week
PayPal has announced multiple long-term, strategic partnerships with a range of Germany’s favorite brands, as part of a major expansion into in-store payments. The first resulting initiative – Deal Week – is available to consumers across Germany today. Deal Week cashback from PayPal can be earned on in-store purchases at the following German brands. On different days of the week, customers can earn up to 10% cashback when they pay contactless in-store with the PayPal app. The offers recur every week, which means consumers could earn hundreds of euros in cashback a month using PayPal in-store. The new contactless feature can be accessed through the latest version of the popular PayPal App (both iOS and Android). Customers can pay safely and easily with a simple tap of their phone at any location that accepts Mastercard contactless payments, as well as benefit from Deal Week offers, once activated in the PayPal app, at approximately 2,000 partner locations4. For the first time, the PayPal App brings together a consolidated view of both online and offline purchases for the consumer. The latest version of the PayPal App also enables consumers to pay in installments for in-store purchases with Ratenzahlung To Go. Fast and flexible, customers can seamlessly apply directly in the PayPal App at any time. Ratenzahlung To Go is available in 3, 6, 12 and 24-month installments, helping consumers spread the cost of in-store purchases to meet their needs (in addition to PayPal’s popular online Pay Later options).