<div>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        Walmart announced a new partnership with Zipline to deliver health and wellness products (on a trial basis) to Walmart&rsquo;s customers starting early 2021, in Bentonville, Arkansas, where Walmart headquarters are located.&nbsp;
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        Zipline drones will be making on-demand deliveries in less than 1 hour, covering a 50-mile radius around the headquarters, carrying cargo up to 4 pounds.&nbsp;
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        The initial trail operations will cover delivery of selected health and wellness products, and have a possibility of expanding to general merchandise.&nbsp;
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        The announcement comes within a week of Walmart launching a pilot program in partnership with Flytrex, to deliver groceries and household items to customers in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        Zipline has commercial drone delivery operations in multiple countries (US, Ghana, Rwanda, India and the Philippines) and thus far the company has delivered more than 200,000 medical products to various health facilities.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <ul>
    <li>
      <p>
        Previously, in May 2020, Zipline partnered with Novant Health to deliver personal protective equipment and medical equipment in North Carolina on a temporary basis amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <p>
  </p>
</div>


<div>
  <p>
    <a href="https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2020/09/14/walmart-and-zipline-team-up-to-bring-first-of-its-kind-drone-delivery-service-to-the-united-states">
      Walmart
    </a>
  </p>
  <p>
    <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/14/21435019/zipline-walmart-drone-deliveries-healthcare-amazon">
      The Verge
    </a>
  </p>
</div>


Last-mile Delivery Automation

Walmart partners with Zipline to deliver health and wellness products in Bentonville, Arkansas

Exploring the limitless possibilities of AI

Generative AI Applications

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 <p>Apple has made public betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 available that include new Apple Intelligence features. These betas can be accessed by registering on Apple's beta software program site.</p>
 <p>These new Apple Intelligence features consist of text rewriting tools, a revamped Siri design, and a "Clean Up" tool that enables users to delete objects from images. However, these functionalities are limited to iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, as well as iPads and Macs equipped with M1 chips or the latest models.</p>
 <p>Fully developed versions of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 are expected to be launched in October by Apple.</p>
 
</div>

Apple releases public betas with Apple Intelligence features

<div>
 <p>Amazon recently introduced Amelia, a GenAI tool aimed to help third-party merchants address account-related concerns and questions.</p>
 <p>Amelia is an AI conversational tool, which is specifically designed to aid third-party merchants in troubleshooting account issues. It provides merchants the capability to examine their account matters and potentially, in the future, it might be able to detect and rectify issues on behalf of the sellers. Furthermore, Amelia can help in filing claims for lost inventory and might even be able to resolve issues automatically, thus minimizing the merchants' need to directly contact support.</p>
 <p>Currently, Amelia is in its beta phase for certain US sellers with plans to launch on a wider scale later this year.</p>
</div>

Amazon launches Amelia, AI assistant for third-party sellers

<div>
 <p>IBM has teamed up with Microsoft to open three IBM-Microsoft Experience Zones at IBM's Client Innovation Centers, located in Bucharest, Romania; Buffalo, New York; and Leicester, UK. The zones are intended to assist global clients in exploring and innovating with GenAI, hybrid cloud, and other Microsoft technologies.</p>
 <p>In these zones, clients have access to various Microsoft technologies such as Azure, Azure Open AI Service, Microsoft Copilot, and Microsoft Dynamics. These spaces facilitate exploration and co-creation of GenAI solutions, experimentation with IBM technologies on Microsoft Azure, and collaboration with IBM experts to identify and resolve unique business challenges utilizing cloud and GenAI solutions.</p>
 <p>Furthermore, the zones aim to demonstrate next-generation technologies and industry-specific case studies, assisting enterprises in harnessing GenAI in competitive business environments.</p>
 
</div>

IBM and Microsoft open three new experience zones to provide customers access to cloud and GenAI solutions

Electrifying passenger and commercial travel

EV Economy

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

<div>
 <p>General Motors (GM) is offering adapters to its Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers for accessing Tesla's Supercharger network, expanding the availability of charging points to over 17,800. These adapters are approved by GM.</p>
 <p>The adapters, known as NACS DC, are priced at USD 225 and are available for purchase through mobile apps of GM vehicle brands. To start, this service is accessible for customers in the United States and Canada.</p>
 <p>Beyond purchasing, GM customers can use these brand-specific mobile apps to locate Tesla Superchargers, check the status of these chargers, initiate charging, and also pay for the charging sessions. GM aims to involve multiple suppliers for producing these approved NACS DC adapters.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake</b> :<br>
 This addition expands GM EV drivers’ access to more than 231,800 public Level 2 and DC fast chargers in North America, in line with efforts to improve charging infrastructure and promote EV adoption. GM follows other automakers, such as Ford and Rivian, in adopting Tesla's charging network, contributing to the broader initiative to make EV charging more accessible and convenient.</p>

GM offers Tesla Supercharger adapters to EV owners for USD 225

Empowering Tomorrow's Innovations with Generative AI Infrastructure

Generative AI Infrastructure

<div>
 <p>Conversational AI platform Uniphore has unveiled a new feature, X-Stream, which operates as a layer in its data and AI platform. X-Stream facilitates knowledge-as-a-service, offering enterprises tools and controls necessary for creating retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) applications.</p>
 <p>X-Stream provides a comprehensive and accessible architecture that consolidates fragmented stages of AI data preparation. It handles multimodal data from over 200 sources, processes this data, translates it into embeddings, stores it in a vector database, forms knowledge graphs, generates synthetic data, and features numerous evidence management capabilities.</p>
 <p>Uniphore states that X-Stream can hasten the deployment of domain-specific GenAI applications using internal data up to eight times faster. Its claim is that customers generally see a return on investment that is four to six times their initial input within a few weeks of the service going live, and it operates on a usage-based pricing model.</p>
 <p>Incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Uniphore specializes in conversational AI and automation technology. The company's solutions integrate GenAI with workflow automation. Its main product offerings include U-Analyze for speech analytics, U-Trust for voice biometrics, U-Self Serve for virtual assistants, and U-Assist for on-the-spot agent support.</p>
</div>

Uniphore launches X-Stream, a unified knowledge offering to build RAG apps

Additive manufacturing makes objects by systematically adding material via a CAD program

Additive Manufacturing

<div>
 
 <p>Australian additive manufacturing company, AML3D, has entered into a Manufacturing License Agreement (MLA) with US nonprofit, Blue Forge Alliance, that supports the US Navy's Submarine Industrial Base. This indefinite agreement grants AML3D the right to access technical data and assistance on parts of the US Navy submarine, allowing the company to implement its ARCEMY Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing technology in the production, testing, and confirmation of a wider variety of submarine components.</p>
 <p>The collaboration also provides a platform for AML3D to work with other US Navy suppliers, integrating the ARCEMY systems into the wider US Navy supply chain. This MLA deal not only solidifies AML3D's ongoing relationship with Blue Forge Alliance but also builds on previous contracts, such as ARCEMY system sales, alloy qualification, and component development for the submarine program of the US Navy.</p>
 
</div>

AML3D partners with Blue Forge Alliance to expand additive manufacturing solutions for US Navy

Autonomous and connected technologies shaping the future of the auto industry

Auto Tech

<div>
 <p>Cruise, General Motors' subsidiary specializing in self-driving vehicles, has revealed it intends to recommence limited testing of its robotaxi fleet in California during the upcoming fall season. The testing phase will include up to five vehicles with test drivers, operating primarily within Sunnyvale and Mountain View.</p>
 <p>The scope of these tests will be small, as they are primarily geared towards development efforts rather than large-scale operations. Unlike in past operations, Cruise vehicles will have test drivers present at the wheel. This represents a noticeable change of approach by shifting away from fully autonomous operations.</p>
 <p>The decision to restart testing procedures comes after an almost year-long break. The extended pause in Cruise's robotaxi operations was initiated from an incident involving a pedestrian, which resulted in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23027">the suspension</a> of Cruise's permit to deploy driverless robotaxi in the state of California.</p>
</div>

Cruise to resume robotaxi testing in California

A booming food and beverage segment with a history as rich and varied as its present-day product offerings.

Plant-based Dairy & Egg

<div>
 <p>Upfield Group B.V., a plant-based food company, has rebranded itself as Flora Food Group B.V. This change reflects its goal to offer affordable and sustainable dairy alternatives. The company, currently operating in 100 countries and having prominent brands like Flora and Violife under its belt, has recently reported net sales worth EUR 3.3 billion for the year 2023.</p>
 <p>The company's strategy includes capitalizing on four global megatrends, namely population growth, rising demand for dairy alternatives, concerns for animal welfare, and stringent environmental regulations. To cater to these trends, Flora Food Group's focus will revolve around four main product categories: butter and spreads, creams, liquids, and cheese.</p>
 <p>The renaming is effective immediately at the corporate level in the Netherlands and will gradually be implemented worldwide. This step is in line with the company's pledge to be fully plant-based, as demonstrated by making all Flora spreads vegan and not using palm oil since October 2023.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Flora Food Group has launched two plant-based dairy alternatives under the Violife brand; the <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/4674"> Vioblock </a> butter made from oils and fats from coconuts, sunflowers, and rapeseed in 2021, and the Creamy Block, a dairy-free cheese block in Canada, recently in <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/30912"> June 2024 </a> . The company also partnered with Copper Branch and PLNT Burger in <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/13371"> September 2022 </a> to launch vegan burgers in the US and Canada.</p>

Upfield rebrands as Flora Food Group in major transformation

Using AI to automate, enhance and optimize marketing activities

Marketing Automation

<div>
 <p>Amazon has launched a service named Video Generator for advertisers that transforms product images into video ads. </p>
 <p>The Video Generator offers customizability, highlighting product features in high-performing ads. The videos are created at a length of six to nine seconds with 720p resolution. Users also have the option to select from four video variations, and adjust the font and soundtrack. </p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake</b> :<br>
 Amazon's launch of the AI-powered video generator for advertisers represents a strategic push to expand its advertising capabilities and position itself as a key player in the competitive landscape of generative, AI-driven marketing tools. The innovation reflects a broader trend in the marketing industry, where companies are increasingly adopting GenAI to improve creativity and efficiency.</p>

Amazon announces Video Generator, an AI-powered tool for advertisers

<div>
 
 <p>Delivery droid developer, Kiwibot, has bought Nickelytics, an advertising firm, for $25 million. The aim of this acquisition is to convert Kiwibot's delivery robots into mobile advertising platforms. </p>
 <p>Nickelytics specializes in car-wrap advertisements, truck ads, and digital displays like tablets in cars for ridesharing. Kiwibot intends to use Nickelytics' analytic abilities and merge them with its route mapping to offer advertising opportunities across over 20 states in busy areas. Through this deal, Nickelytics' notable customers will be able to access more than 500 mobile Kiwibots for ad purposes.</p>
 
</div>

All Updates

Walmart partners with Zipline to deliver health and wellness products in Bentonville, Arkansas

Apple releases public betas with Apple Intelligence features

Amazon launches Amelia, AI assistant for third-party sellers

IBM and Microsoft open three new experience zones to provide customers access to cloud and GenAI solutions

GM offers Tesla Supercharger adapters to EV owners for USD 225

Uniphore launches X-Stream, a unified knowledge offering to build RAG apps

AML3D partners with Blue Forge Alliance to expand additive manufacturing solutions for US Navy

Cruise to resume robotaxi testing in California

Upfield rebrands as Flora Food Group in major transformation

Amazon announces Video Generator, an AI-powered tool for advertisers

Kiwibot acquires Nickelytics for USD 25 million to turn delivery robots into mobile billboards

Last-mile Delivery Automation

Walmart partners with Zipline to deliver health and wellness products in Bentonville, Arkansas

Contact us