Welcome to this week's AI edition of The Commerce Brief 🤖
✦ THIS WEEK’S AI INDUSTRY UPDATES
01. Meta is reportedly developing an AI pendant, building on its 2025 acquisition of Limitless, an AI device startup that made a wearable pendant users could attach to their shirt or wear as a necklace to record conversations. At the time of the acquisition, Meta said the deal would "accelerate our work to build AI-enabled wearables." (source)
02. Sephora has become the first prestige beauty retailer to enable shopping directly within Google's AI-powered platform through Google Agentic Checkout. The experience lets shoppers discover products, ask detailed beauty questions, build a routine and check out without leaving the Google platform. The launch is part of a broader AI strategy that includes the Sephora App in ChatGPT, a proprietary AI Beauty Chat on its website and app, and AI-enabled skin diagnostics across stores and digital channels. (source)
03. Tilt, a live auction app where AI connects people selling products in real time, has secured $26m in fresh funding, bringing total funding to over $50m. Vinted Ventures joined the round alongside existing backers TQ Ventures, Balderton Capital, Earlybird and Seedcamp. (source)
04. Modelia, a Spanish B2B platform specialising in AI-generated image creation and management for the fashion industry, has closed a $1.2m seed funding round to scale operations. The platform allows visual campaigns that traditionally required weeks of production, model coordination, photography and editing to be produced in hours while maintaining brand consistency. The US is currently its largest market. (source)
05. Amazon has launched an Agentic Shopping Assistant tool on AWS, enabling retailers to build and launch their own AI shopping agents in weeks rather than developing the technology themselves. The tool can be customised for each retailer's shopping environment, clientele, brand voice and product assortment, with Kate Spade as the first partner. (source)
06. Carrefour Belgium has opened its largest AI-powered automated BuyBye store to date in Hasselt. The store features eight refrigerated display cases with a wide product variety and a cash machine for withdrawals. (source)
07. Rep AI, an AI platform built for e-commerce brands and online retailers, has raised $6.2m in funding led by Silicon Road Ventures. The platform detects buying intent, starts contextual conversations, answers questions, guides purchase decisions and resolves support in real time across social media, site interactions and email. (source)
08. Dick's Sporting Goods has launched an agentic AI-powered conversational coach designed to support athletes throughout their journey. Users can access training tips and product education grounded in the retailer's sports knowledge. (source)
That's a wrap for this week! If you found this useful or if you have any feedback, hit reply and let me know, or share it with someone in the industry who'd enjoy the read.
Thanks - Sue
