From teenagers to Tokyo, Amazon is perpetually looking for new ways to meet consumers where they are. In this week’s tracker, the eCommerce giant raises the bar (the pop-up bar, that is), gives YouTube and pharmacies a run for their money, allows teens to shop independently while still giving parents visibility and control, and plans to deliver packages to customer’s trunks. Plus, Alexa learns the difference between you, your spouse and your kids.  Read More...

Amazon decided that the world's teenagers needed more ways to shop with their parents' money, Russia declared cryptocurrency is a no-no and China got up close and personal with its big tech giants. And Facebook’s response to fake news gave rise to our big sizzle: Humans can still one-up machines, especially when it comes to spotting fake news and ads.  Read More...

Surveys show that both consumers and retailers are still warming to artificial intelligence (AI)-powered commerce. Voice shopping with smart home speakers such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home is a relatively new phenomenon, and it’s still unclear to what extent it’s going to stick once the novelty wears off. So, should retailers be investing in ways to reach consumers with these new tools, or hold off until the forecast is clear? It seems many are opting for the latter strategy, if they plan to introduce AI at all.  Read More...