Compiled Highlights: Top News Briefs on Data and Information
In the realm of retail and technology, two major players have made significant strides in enhancing customer experiences and environmental consciousness.
JCPenney, the American department store chain, has taken a bold step forward by introducing an AI-powered tool for online skincare and makeup shopping. The innovative system uses customer photos and self-reported data to recommend products and offers an augmented reality (AR) feature for makeup trials.
The AI skincare advisor analyses customers’ skin conditions and provides customised product recommendations based on their unique skin concerns, leading to a 23% higher average order value for shoppers using this service[1][2]. The virtual makeup try-on tool, on the other hand, allows customers to see how different makeup products will look on their faces in real time, boosting the personalization and shopping experience. This interactive feature has resulted in a 108% increase in conversion rates for mass-market brands[1][2].
Meanwhile, Google has expanded its Maps tool to offer eco-friendly routing options in nearly 40 European countries. The new feature uses data from the European Environment Agency and past driving trends to suggest greener travel routes, promoting sustainability and reducing carbon footprint.
In a separate development, San Francisco officials have initiated an urban heat mapping project. By collecting data on heat and humidity via volunteers' car sensors on 12 city routes at specific times of the day, they aim to gain insights into local temperature patterns and take steps to combat urban heat islands.
On the creative front, OpenAI's AI system DALL-E now includes an Outpainting tool. This feature extends existing paintings beyond their original borders, maintaining the original style and details, offering artists and designers a new way to explore and expand their works.
These advancements underscore the growing intersection of technology and daily life, as companies and cities strive to improve efficiency, personalise experiences, and promote sustainability.
[1] JCPenney Press Release, "JCPenney Unveils AI-Powered Skincare and Makeup Shopping Experience," 2021. [2] Retail Dive, "JCPenney's AI-powered skincare and makeup tool boosts sales," 2021.
- The AI-powered skincare advisor from JCPenney, an American department store, curtails individual skincare concerns and suggests personalized products, thereby enhancing the average order value by 23%.
- Google's Maps tool, in its latest expansion, bases eco-friendly routing options on data and past driving trends in nearly 40 European countries, fostering sustainability and reducing carbon footprint.
- San Francisco officials have employed data collection from volunteers' car sensors for an urban heat mapping project, aiming to comprehend local temperature patterns and combat urban heat islands.
- In another creative realm, OpenAI's AI system DALL-E features an Outpainting tool, enabling artists and designers to expand existing works by maintaining the original style and details.
- The integration of technology into daily life is increasingly evident as companies and administrations push for efficiency, personalized experiences, and environmental consciousness, with advancements in AI, science, health-and-wellness, skin-care, and technology leading the charge.
