Latest News from France 24
France 24
8 minutes ago
- Business
- France 24
AI personal shoppers hunt down bargain buys
The rise of virtual personal shoppers springs from generative artificial intelligence (AI) being put to work in "agents" specializing in specific tasks and given autonomy to complete them independently. "This is basically the next evolution of shopping experiences," said CFRA Research analyst Angelo Zino. Google last week unveiled shopping features built into a new "AI Mode". It can take a person's own photo and meld it with that of a skirt, shirt or other piece of clothing spotted online, showing how it will look on them. The AI adjusts the clothing size to fit, accounting for how fabrics drape, according to Google head of advertising and commerce Vidhya Srinivasan. Shoppers can then set the price they would pay and leave the AI to relentlessly browse the internet for a deal -- alerting the shopper when it finds one, and asking if it should buy using Google's payment platform. "They're taking on Amazon a little bit," Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart said of Google. The tool is also a way to make money from AI by increasing online traffic and opportunities to show ads, Greengart added. The Silicon Valley tech titan did not respond to a query regarding whether it is sharing in revenue from shopping transactions. Bartering bots? OpenAI added a shopping feature to ChatGPT earlier this year, enabling the chatbot to respond to requests with product suggestions, consumer reviews and links to merchant websites. Perplexity AI late last year began letting subscribers pay for online purchases without leaving its app. Amazon in April added a "Buy for Me" mode to its Rufus digital assistant, allowing users to command it to make purchases at retailer websites off Amazon's platform. Walmart head of technology Hari Vasudev recently spoke about adding an AI agent to the retail behemoth's online shopping portal, while also working with partners to make sure their digital agents keep Walmart products in mind. Global payment networks Visa and Mastercard in April each said their technical systems were modernized to allow payment transactions by digital agents. "As AI agents start to take over the bulk of product discovery and the decision-making process, retailers must consider how to optimize for this new layer of AI shoppers," said Elise Watson of Clarkston Consulting. Retailers are likely to be left groping in the dark when it comes to what makes a product attractive to AI agents, according to Watson. Knowing the customer Analyst Zino does not expect AI shoppers to cause an e-commerce industry upheaval, but he does see the technology benefitting Google and Meta. Not only do the Internet rivals have massive amounts of data about their users, but they are also among frontrunners in the AI race. "They probably have more information on the consumer than anyone else out there," Zino said of Google and Meta. Tech company access to data about users hits the hot-button issue of online privacy and who should control personal information. Google plans to refine consumer profiles based on what people search for and promises that shoppers will need to authorize access to additional information such as email or app use. Trusting a chatbot with one's buying decisions may spook some people, and while the technology might be in place the legal and ethical framework for it is not. "The agent economy is here," said PSE Consulting managing director Chris Jones.
News18
18 minutes ago
- Business
- News18
US Court Blocks Donald Trump's Tariffs, Says 'President Exceeded His Authority'
Last Updated: A US court ruled that President Trump exceeded his authority by imposing broad tariffs under emergency powers, affirming that only Congress can regulate international commerce. A U.S. trade court on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump's tariffs from going into effect in a sweeping ruling that the president overstepped his authority by imposing across-the-board duties on imports from nations that sell more to the United States than they buy. The Court of International Trade said the U.S. Constitution gives Congress exclusive authority to regulate commerce with other countries that is not overridden by the president's emergency powers to safeguard the U.S. economy. 'The court does not pass upon the wisdom or likely effectiveness of the President's use of tariffs as leverage. That use is impermissible not because it is unwise or ineffective, but because [federal law] does not allow it," a three-judge panel said in the decision. The Trump administration minutes later filed a notice of appeal and questioned the authority of the court. The decisions of the Manhattan-based Court of International Trade, which hears disputes involving international trade and customs laws, can be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., and ultimately the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump has made charging U.S. importers tariffs on goods from foreign countries the central policy of his ongoing trade wars, which have severely disrupted global trade flows and roiled financial markets. Companies of all sizes have been whipsawed by Trump's swift imposition of tariffs and sudden reversals as they seek to manage supply chains, production, staffing and prices. A White House spokesperson on Wednesday said U.S. trade deficits with other countries constituted 'a national emergency that has decimated American communities, left our workers behind, and weakened our defense industrial base – facts that the court did not dispute." 'It is not for unelected judges to decide how to properly address a national emergency," Kush Desai, the spokesperson, said in a statement. Financial markets cheered the ruling. The U.S. dollar rallied following the court's order, surging against currencies such as the euro, yen and the Swiss franc in particular. Wall Street futures rose and equities across Asia also rose. The ruling, if it stands, blows a giant hole through Trump's strategy to use steep tariffs to wring concessions from trading partners, draw manufacturing jobs back to U.S. shores and shrink a $1.2 trillion U.S. goods trade deficit, which were among his key campaign promises. Without the instant leverage provided by the tariffs of 10% to 54% that Trump declared under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) — which is meant to address 'unusual and extraordinary" threats during a national emergency — the Trump administration would have to take a slower approach of lengthier trade investigations under other trade laws to back its tariff threats. The ruling came in a pair of lawsuits, one filed by the nonpartisan Liberty Justice Center on behalf of five small U.S. businesses that import goods from countries targeted by the duties and the other by 13 U.S. states. The companies, which range from a New York wine and spirits importer to a Virginia-based maker of educational kits and musical instruments, have said the tariffs will hurt their ability to do business. 'There is no question here of narrowly tailored relief; if the challenged Tariff Orders are unlawful as to Plaintiffs they are unlawful as to all," the trade court wrote in its decision. At least five other legal challenges to the tariffs are pending. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, a Democrat whose office is leading the states' lawsuit, called Trump's tariffs unlawful, reckless and economically devastating. 'This ruling reaffirms that our laws matter, and that trade decisions can't be made on the president's whim," Rayfield said in a statement. Trump has claimed broad authority to set tariffs under IEEPA. The law has historically been used to impose sanctions on enemies of the U.S. or freeze their assets. Trump is the first U.S. president to use it to impose tariffs. The Justice Department has said the lawsuits should be dismissed because the plaintiffs have not been harmed by tariffs that they have not yet paid, and because only Congress, not private businesses, can challenge a national emergency declared by the president under IEEPA. In imposing the tariffs in early April, Trump called the trade deficit a national emergency that justified his 10% across-the-board tariff on all imports, with higher rates for countries with which the United States has the largest trade deficits, particularly China. Many of those country-specific tariffs were paused a week later. The Trump administration on May 12 said it was also temporarily reducing the steepest tariffs on China while working on a longer-term trade deal. Both countries agreed to cut tariffs on each other for at least 90 days. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 29, 2025, 06:45 IST
News18
18 minutes ago
- Business
- News18
Leo Horoscope Today, May 29th, 2025
Leo Daily Horoscope Today, 29th May 2025: Ganesha says today is a day of financial stability for you. The economic situation will be strong. There will be financial gain by completing any incomplete work in the work area. You may receive ancestral wealth. There will be profit along with progress in business due to a colleague. You will find that your ability to earn money is quite good now. This means that your overall long-term financial strategy is working well and serving your purpose. There will be an emphasis on innovation. Business efforts will bring profit and respect. Work will improve. Talent and performance will bring prestige. Professionalism will strengthen. Auspiciousness will increase. Business will grow. Industry will grow. You will make important decisions. Check out your daily horoscope for May 29, 2025 here.
News18
18 minutes ago
- Business
- News18
Libra Horoscope Today, May 29th, 2025
Libra Daily Horoscope Today, 29th May 2025: Ganesha says today, kept the money or hidden money can be found. The money which was not available in business for a long time can be found today. You will get the benefit of proximity to the boss on the job. You will receive gifts and money in love relationships. Be careful of relying on credit to make large purchases. Today you should take your decisions thoughtfully because they can prove to be very beneficial for your future. You will be a leader in business matters. Career and business will be good. You will get success at a normal pace. Plans will move forward well. Auspiciousness will increase in various matters. Coordination with partners will improve. Work will be better. Enthusiasm will increase. Business efforts will be in favor. You will emphasize cooperation and partnership. Check out your daily horoscope for May 29, 2025 here. advetisement
Cairo 360
18 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Cairo 360
Roro's Bazzar at Suncity Mall, Sheraton
Catch Roro's Bazaar at Suncity Mall, Sheraton on May 29th, 30th, and 31st for a shopping experience you won't want to miss. For more information, hit this link!
