Walmart says AI users build 35% bigger baskets than others
Walmart CEO John Furner revealed that customers using the Sparky AI shopping assistant have 35% larger order values compared to non-users during the fourth-quarter earnings call.

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AI-generated summary: The Defense Department and Anthropic are in a dispute over the use of artificial intelligence in future battlefields, raising political concerns and potential challenges for Anthropic.
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This Week
Walmart CEO John Furner revealed that customers using the Sparky AI shopping assistant have 35% larger order values compared to non-users during the fourth-quarter earnings call.
Amazon has surpassed Walmart in annual revenue for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the ecommerce and retail tech industry.
eBay acquires Depop from Etsy for $1.2bn, emphasizing the importance of culture in the recommerce battle.
Successful retail brands are shifting their perspective on logistics from a cost center to a strategic growth lever, as margins tighten, customer expectations rise, and omnichannel complexity increases.
The rise of low-value imports worth €150 or less is causing significant changes in the European Union's ecommerce landscape, as reported by Practical Ecommerce on February 17, 2026.
Unilever has entered a five-year partnership with Google Cloud to enhance its use of AI and transition more data and business systems to Google's cloud platform. The collaboration aims to bolster marketing, product discovery, and internal operations for Unilever's global brand portfolio.
Wizard, an AI shopping agent created by Marc Lore and Melissa Bridgeford, has recently launched in the midst of a growing trend of tools designed to assist shoppers with searching, comparing, and checking out products.
This Week
The Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling on IEEPA tariffs has significant implications for the jewelry business, prompting changes in the tariff landscape overnight. However, businesses are advised not to cancel supplier orders immediately.
A survey by the BRC shows a significant increase in concerns among retail CFOs and finance directors about rising labor costs due to the Employment Rights Act. 69% of respondents are pessimistic about the impact on retail jobs in the upcoming year.
Haelixa has introduced a DNA-based Authenticity Service to combat luxury watch counterfeiting, aiming to protect high-end products from being replicated. Counterfeiting costs the luxury industry billions annually, with the Swiss watch sector alone losing $1.88 billion per year.
Hot Diamonds will introduce its new stainless steel jewellery brand, Ava & Sky, in June 2026. The collection features waterproof, sweat-resistant, and hypoallergenic pieces crafted from premium 316L stainless steel with advanced PVD plating, offering durability and a luxurious aesthetic.
The Independent Jewellers Collective (IJC) has introduced an exclusive app for members to access digital assets related to custom jewellery design, enhancing the level of personalized service in the industry.
Jennifer Farnes utilized her building expertise to establish Revolution Jewelry Works, incorporating reclaimed wood, liquid-metal floors, and a 10,500-piece chandelier into the store's design.
Deakin & Francis, England's oldest family jewellers, celebrates 240 years of craftsmanship using centuries-old techniques to create timeless pieces. Founded in 1786, the jeweller focuses on authenticity and longevity for collectors who appreciate traditional craftsmanship.
This Week
The Defense Department and Anthropic are in a dispute over the use of artificial intelligence in future battlefields, raising political concerns and potential challenges for Anthropic.
AI's 'memorisation' problem is highlighted in a study showing that large language models (LLMs) retain more training data than expected, leading to concerns about potential copyright infringement.
Jayant Chaudhary, a government official, plans to create a complete AI stack to drive innovation, encompassing hardware, software, data, and services for AI applications. He highlighted the importance of segmented data sets at the AI Impact Summit in the national capital.
Sarvam.AI has introduced Indus, a chatbot based on its 105 billion sovereign model, to compete with global AI giants like ChatGPT and Gemini. The focus is on accuracy and relevance for the Indian market.
AI is proving to be a valuable investment for telecom operators, with 90% reporting positive returns on their AI initiatives. This is based on Nvidia's 2026 State of AI in Telecommunications survey of over 1,000 industry professionals.
Investors in the US are selling software firms and wealth managers due to concerns about the impact of rapid advances in artificial intelligence on established business models, creating an "AI scare trade." China, however, is defying this trend as investors there continue to chase winners in the AI sector.
AI financial reporting platform Inscope has secured $14.5 million in a Series A funding round to enhance its AI-powered platform for enterprises and accounting firms. This brings the company's total funding to $18.8 million, including previous seed funding.
This Week
Amouage experienced a 66% revenue increase in 2025, attributed to the success of its 'Exceptional Extraits' collection and global retail presence.
Despite slower income gains, consumers are still driving the U.S. economy with persistent spending. Data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis for December shows a 0.3% increase in personal income month over month.
UK footfall declined by 0.6% in January, showing improvement from the previous month. Despite the decrease, an increase in consumer confidence offers cautious optimism for the retail sector.
Retail sales volumes surged by 1.8% in January, following a 0.4% increase in December, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported by Drapers.
AI-generated focus groups are becoming a new tool for brands to understand consumer preferences and test products and marketing strategies before launch. This synthetic consumer research is helping brands gain insights into their customers in the luxury and consumer industry.
Wealthier shoppers are more likely to buy fresh foods, while lower-income shoppers tend to purchase shelf-stable products, as per NielsenIQ data shared by FMI.
Emily Oberg of Sporty & Rich took over as CEO last August and aims to grow her business without falling victim to the 'founder's ego' issue that has hindered other brands, as discussed in an interview with Business of Fashion.