Latest news with #Vees
Newsweek
23-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
New Cameras Predict if Somebody Is About to Shoplift, Company Says
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new form of security camera software that uses artificial intelligence to predict if someone may be about to shoplift is being used in certain stores in the U.S. The camera software, produced by AI surveillance company Veesion, reads body language and hand movement to detect suspicious behavior, allowing shops to prevent robberies before they happen, per the company. Newsweek contacted Veesion for more information on the technology via email. Why It Matters In 2024, there was a rise in shoplifting reports, with the Council on Criminal Justice reporting that the crime increased by 24 percent in the first half of the year compared to the same time period the previous year. Retailers have sought to prevent theft without compromising the customer experience as traditional approaches such as locking up products can frustrate shoppers and have been found to lower sales. What To Know Veesion's system plugs into a store's existing camera network. The software analyzes video feeds and flags sequences it considers suspicious. These alerts appear on staff tablets, phones or even checkout terminals. The technology is currently on trial at around 5,000 stores in the U.S, Canada and Europe. Veesion, which was founded in France in 2018, says its software avoids identifying individuals or collecting biometric data. "Our technology does not allow for the recognition of physical or physiological characteristics, the deduction of emotions or intentions of people," Veesion states on its website. Examples of an AI-powered shoplifting detection software produced by Veesion. Examples of an AI-powered shoplifting detection software produced by Veesion. Veesion Its creators also say that the technology can avoid the biases of other AI-based products, as it doesn't read anything else about the person it is observing, just their body language. "The algorithm doesn't care about what people look like. It just cares about how your body parts move over time," Veesion cofounder Benoît Koenig told Business Insider. In stores, the software works by comparing live footage to millions of examples of shoplifting gestures that the algorithm has been trained on. Over time, the system improves via machine learning, with the stated goal of reaching 99 percent detection rates. Koenig told Business Insider more than 85 percent of alerts have been considered relevant for store operators that use the Veesion system. He said one client in the U.S. was able to halve losses in one section of the store in the first three months of implementation. Retailers also benefit, in theory, from a deterrence created by the strength of the technology. "They know there is an AI in the cameras, so they're going to be careful with what they do," said Koenig. What People Are Saying Veesion cofounder Benoît Koenig told Business Insider: "It's not glamorous, but the ROI is quite direct. You're going to arrest shoplifters, recover inventory, and save money." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "Shoplifting as such a widespread crime during a time of high inflation is actually quite common when you look at similar times from other countries in the past. "The one-two punch that consumers face is not just higher prices, but also a drawback of additional financial resources they would normally qualify for because of their current employment and income outlook." What's Next Veesion, which recently raised $43 million in funding, is expanding its U.S. operations.
CTV News
10-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Vees force Game 6 with 3-2 win over Bandits
The Vees forced a Game 6 in the BCHL Interior Conference Final Friday, defeating the Brooks Bandits 3-2 (Photo:
The Province
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The Province
Busy Vees: Penticton playing in BCHL semifinals, making WHL expansion draft picks this week
Vees GM/coach Fred Harbinson said: "I think we've covered everything we need to cover, and we haven't compromised the current team." Get the latest from Steve Ewen straight to your inbox Penticton Vees general manager and coach Fred Harbinson. Photo by Garrett James Photography Penticton Vees general manager and head coach Fred Harbinson will have his multi-tasking skills on overdrive this week. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The Vees are in the BCHL semifinals. They were down to 2-0 to the Brooks Bandits in the Junior A circuit's best-of-seven championship qualifier going into Game 3 Monday night in Brooks, which is 190 kilometres southeast of Calgary. Game 4 is in Brooks Tuesday, while Game 5, if necessary, would be in Penticton on Friday. Harbinson and Co. are also leaving the BCHL this summer and signing on under the Vees banner as an expansion franchise with the WHL. The major junior loop holds its expansion draft on Wednesday, along with the first round of its annual entry draft. The remaining rounds of the entry draft are set for Thursday, as well as the two-round U.S. priority draft. With the expansion draft, the Vees are eligible to select one player from each of the league's 22 existing teams. Pre-draft trades can be made in lieu of a selection. Penticton will get the protected lists from the other clubs on Tuesday, and teams can protect either 17 players (14 players ages 17-19, three 20 year olds) or 16 players (no limit on 20 year olds). 'You're always busy in this business, but this is another level obviously,' Harbinson said Monday morning. 'We're in the middle of a series that didn't start the right way for us, and giving us just 24 hours with everyone's list is a little bit taxing. 'But we think we've got everything covered. This isn't something that was just dropped on us. We've been going at it the last couple of months, and I think we've covered everything we need to cover, and we haven't compromised the current team. We've done a good job of preparing for this series. Finishing this season strong is very important to us.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Vees will be permitted to dress four 20 year olds next season — which is one more than usual — and that also includes the league playoffs. They're the first WHL expansion team since the Edmonton Oil Kings were added for the 2007-08 season. The Oil Kings selected four 20 year olds, five 19 year olds, three 18 year olds and five 17 year olds in their expansion draft. Four teams swung pre-draft trades with Edmonton so they didn't lose a player off in the draft process. This expansion has a complication that Edmonton's didn't have, since the NCAA opened up scholarship rules to allow players from the WHL for the first time this coming season. Keeping your college eligibility had been the main drawing card of Junior A leagues like the BCHL, and the NCAA switch spurred on the Vees' move to the WHL. Mazden Leslie, who was a 19-year-old defenceman this past season with the Vancouver Giants, provides an example of the challenges the change in NCAA regulations brings with Wednesday's expansion draft. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Leslie has said that if he doesn't sign a pro contract this summer, he'll spend his 20-year-old season beginning next fall with the Bowling Green State University Falcons rather than return to the Giants. Leslie could be moved to the Giants' college exempt list and not count against the team's 50-player protected list after the expansion draft but not until then. If things didn't work out in pro or college and he returned to the WHL at some point this coming season, he'd be an automatic top-pairing defenceman. He finished second in scoring among blue liners across the league in the regular season this year with 72 points, including 21 goals. If the Giants protect Leslie, chances are they'd want to protect a fourth 20-year-old as well, as cover for them. And that would mean they'd protect one less player overall. The Vees were awarded the fourth pick in the first round of the WHL draft. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The WHL is slated to add another expansion team next summer, with a squad going into Chilliwack in preparation for the 2026-27 season. The league is taking applications for ownership and WHL commissioner Dan Near explained via text Monday that there's a 'number of interested parties,' and that the league is 'very pleased with the interest level and enthusiasm from prospective ownership groups thus far.' No word on when they might come to a decision. Chilliwack is home to the BCHL's Chilliwack Chiefs who, oddly enough, are currently facing the Victoria Grizzlies in the other league semifinal, for the right to to meet either Penticton or Brooks in the championship series. The Grizzlies and Chiefs are knotted at 1-1 going into Game 3 Tuesday in Victoria. Chiefs principal owner Moray Keith has repeatedly said that he's not interested in owning a WHL team. The Chiefs are expected to remain in Chilliwack next season before moving elsewhere. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It was both the city council and the WHL that were interested in putting a team in Chilliwack. They've had the WHL before in the city, with the Chilliwack Bruins playing there from 2006-11 before moving to Vancouver Island to become the Victoria Royals. The league's never announced what the Vees' expansion fee, but various league sources have put it at $15 million. Penticton (41-8-5-0) and Brooks (40-10-2-2) had the BCHL's best records during the regular season, followed by Chilliwack (37-12-5-0). Victoria (28-17-8-1) was ninth. Penticton lost in last year's best-of-seven Fred Page Cup league championship, falling in six games to the Surrey Eagles. The Vees had won the two years previous. The league no longer competes for a national title. They announced in May 2023 that they were leaving Hockey Canada and becoming an independent league. @SteveEwen SEwen@ Read More Vancouver Canucks News News Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Whitecaps
