News

Retailers Embrace Agentic AI to Blend Physical and Digital Shopping Experiences

Retail leaders are integrating agentic AI into both online and brick‑and‑mortar channels to enhance customer service, streamline supply chains, and personalize product discovery. A recent Brunswick survey of over 5,000 consumers revealed mixed emotions—half nervous, half excited—yet a clear preference for human interaction when possible. Retailers are balancing rapid AI advances, highlighted by breakthroughs over the past 18 months, with the need for authenticity, transparency, and ethical use, especially as virtual influencers and AI avatars become commonplace. The industry’s success hinges on pairing technology with a human‑centric approach.

Retail Turns to Agentic AI While Tackling Security Risks

Retail operators are adopting agentic AI systems that can reason, decide, and act on real‑world tasks such as inventory management, returns processing, and promotional updates. These autonomous agents promise faster decisions and tighter integration across storefront and back‑office tools. At the same time, industry leaders warn that the same capabilities can expose retailers to prompt manipulation, tool misuse, data leakage, and automation drift. Experts recommend a lifecycle approach that includes clear boundaries, threat modeling, hardened prompts, sandboxed execution, and continuous monitoring to reap the benefits while keeping operations secure.

Nvidia’s Data‑Center Sales Lean Heavily on Three Unnamed Customers

Nvidia’s latest earnings reveal that more than half of its data‑center revenue comes from just three undisclosed clients. The company reported roughly 53% of data‑center sales tied to these customers, amounting to billions of dollars. Industry observers speculate the trio could include Elon Musk’s xAI, an OpenAI‑Oracle partnership, and Meta, though Nvidia has not confirmed any identities. Analysts warn that such concentration creates a structural vulnerability: a shift by any of the three could leave a sizable gap in Nvidia’s financials. Geopolitical factors and recent chip restrictions add further uncertainty to the outlook.

Senior Engineers Embrace AI Coding Tools While Maintaining Oversight, Survey Shows

A Fastly survey finds that over 70% of senior developers say AI‑assisted coding makes their jobs more enjoyable and speeds delivery, though they spend extra effort reviewing machine‑generated code. Only a small share of junior programmers rely heavily on AI, preferring hand‑crafted solutions. The study also reveals generational gaps in energy‑impact awareness, with about 80% of older coders considering power costs versus roughly half of younger developers. Senior engineers, who balance testing, architecture, and mentoring, view AI as a way to recapture the “fun dopamine hit” of programming while staying cautious about broader automation consequences.

Google NotebookLM Expands Audio Overviews with New Formats

Google has upgraded its NotebookLM Audio Overviews by adding three new formats—Brief, Critique, and Debate—alongside the existing Deep Dive mode. The Brief format delivers quick 1‑2 minute summaries, Critique offers constructive feedback, and Debate pits two AI hosts against each other to explore opposing viewpoints. Users can customize tone, language, and length, while the update aims to make the tool more dynamic and accessible, especially for those with visual impairments. The features are currently rolling out in the United States and are expected to expand globally.

Google Unveils Ironwood TPU with Record 1.77PB Shared Memory

Google introduced its seventh‑generation Tensor Processing Unit, dubbed Ironwood, at a recent Hot Chips event. The dual‑die chip delivers 4,614 TFLOPs of FP8 performance and pairs each die with eight stacks of HBM3e, providing 192 GB of memory per chip. When scaled to a 9,216‑chip pod, the system reaches 1.77 PB of directly addressable memory—the largest shared‑memory configuration ever recorded for a supercomputer. The architecture includes advanced reliability features, liquid‑cooling infrastructure, and AI‑assisted design optimizations, and is already being deployed in Google Cloud data centers for large‑scale inference workloads.

DuckDuckGo Expands Subscription to Include Latest AI Models

DuckDuckGo has upgraded its privacy‑focused subscription plan to give members access to a range of cutting‑edge AI models without additional fees. The plan, which already bundles a VPN service, personal information removal, and identity theft restoration, now includes models such as Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Haiku, Meta’s Llama 4 Scout, Mistral AI’s Mistral Small 3 24B, and OpenAI’s GPT‑4o mini. Users on the $9.99‑per‑month tier will also be able to use newer models like GPT‑4o, GPT‑5, Claude Sonnet 4, and Llama Maverick, offering more nuanced responses while maintaining DuckDuckGo’s privacy emphasis.

Robot Lawn Mowers: How They Work, Features and Top Picks

Robot lawn mowers use rechargeable batteries and autonomous navigation to trim grass regularly, leaving cuttings on the lawn as mulch. They come in satellite, camera, wire‑boundary and remote‑control varieties, each with distinct setup needs. Premium models like the Husqvarna Automower 450X offer satellite‑based exact positioning for large lawns, while more affordable options such as the Anthbot Genie 3000 use GPS. Remote‑control options like the Mowrator S1 provide a hands‑on experience. Installation is generally DIY, but placement of receivers and charging, weather resistance, and boundary setup are key considerations before purchase.

Ecovacs Unveils Fast-Charging Deebot X11 Omnicyclone Robovac

Ecovacs has launched the Deebot X11 Omnicyclone, a new robotic vacuum and mop that uses GaN-enabled fast charging to top up its battery each time it returns to its base for mop rinses. The device delivers 19,500 Pa of suction power, a 15 mm extended roller mop, and a 4WD system with mechanical climbing levers that handle thresholds, rugs, doorframes and uneven surfaces. Its base station features auto‑empty technology and hot‑water cleaning for the mop roller. Priced at $1,499, the X11 Omnicyclone is available for purchase in the United States and Canada.

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TCL Launches Nxtpaper 5G Junior Kids Phone with Monochrome Mode

TCL introduced the Nxtpaper 5G Junior, a kids‑focused smartphone unveiled at IFA, featuring a dedicated Max Ink Mode that switches the matte display to a monochromatic, E‑Ink‑like view for reduced eye strain. The device includes Google’s Family Link parental controls, a Digital Detox mode, and a protective case, while offering 256 GB, a 6.7‑inch screen, and dual rear cameras. Alongside the Junior, TCL also announced the Nxtpaper 60 Ultra, the first phone with Nxtpaper 4.0 technology, a larger 7.2‑inch display, triple rear cameras and optional stylus support, targeting broader markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

TCL Unveils NXTPAPER 60 Ultra Smartphone with Advanced Eye‑Comfort Display

TCL introduced the NXTPAPER 60 Ultra at IFA 2025, marking its first phone to feature the latest generation of its NXTPAPER eye‑comfort screen technology. The device blends e‑paper and OLED benefits, offering blue‑light filtering, a matte anti‑glare layer, and an Ink Mode that mimics e‑ink. Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7400 chipset, 12 GB of RAM, and a 5,200 mAh battery, it also includes a 50 MP periscope camera with 3× optical zoom. The phone will launch in Europe, Latin America and Asia with pricing in euros for 256 GB and 512 GB models.