microsoft, google and openai Updates

Retailers are rapidly integrating artificial intelligence into their customer experiences, with JD Sports leading the charge on one-click AI shopping. The company plans to launch this feature in the US, its largest market, through platforms like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT in the coming months, with expansion to the UK and Europe later this year. Partnering with Commercetools and Stripe, JD Sports aims to capitalize on young shoppers' existing use of AI for product research, enhancing digital offerings and efficiency. Walmart is also exploring similar AI shopping capabilities with Google's Gemini chatbot. However, not all retailers are fully embracing external AI platforms. Companies like Kroger and Lowe's are developing their own AI shopping tools to maintain control over customer loyalty and sales. Kroger uses an AI agent within its mobile app for item comparisons and purchases, while Lowe's integrates Google's AI agent with its Mylow assistant, also collaborating with OpenAI. Papa Johns is similarly testing Google's food ordering agent, indicating a trend among some businesses to keep AI-driven interactions within their proprietary systems. Beyond retail, AI advancements are transforming mobility and public safety. Chinese EV maker XPENG recently unveiled its VLA 2.0 autonomous driving AI system, which generates driving commands directly from visual inputs. This system will roll out to customer vehicles in March 2026, accompanying the launch of its 2026 XPENG P7+ flagship sedan. Meanwhile, the MTA is exploring AI for real-time monitoring of subway cars and buses, seeking solutions to identify weapons, unattended items, and predict crowd behaviors across its 15,000 camera feeds, though watchdog groups express concerns about privacy and potential misidentification. The financial sector is also seeing a surge in AI adoption, with firms like Hurricane Capital acquiring Kiyomi AI to enhance trading capabilities, following an earlier investment in Transient.AI. BlackRock and eToro are utilizing AI-powered platforms for market analysis and rapid trades. This rapid integration of AI into trading has, however, sparked comparisons to the dot-com bubble, raising concerns that advanced tools might lead retail investors to repeat past emotional and costly mistakes, emphasizing that AI analysis does not guarantee profits. Despite the rapid development, a significant challenge lies in the operational aspects of AI software. Many companies are quickly building new AI applications but are underprepared for the complexities of running them safely and efficiently. Experts like Spiros, founder of Resolve, warn that the first AI crisis could stem from the inability to manage this new software effectively. The focus often remains on development, neglecting the "run" side which involves crucial tasks like monitoring, issue resolution, and security, a process complicated by fragmented systems and a lack of shared knowledge. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has urged an end to negative discussions surrounding AI, arguing that pessimism deters investment crucial for making AI safer and more useful. He also questions the motives behind calls for AI regulation, suggesting it could hinder new companies. Concurrently, Spirit AI has open-sourced its Spirit v1.5 model, a Vision-Language-Action model that topped the RoboChallenge benchmark, aiming to boost transparency and collaboration in embodied AI. In a separate development, GOP Representative Rob Bresnahan, who campaigned on banning congressional stock trading, purchased stock in data center supplier Credo Technology last June while promoting data center construction in his district.

Key Takeaways

• JD Sports is launching one-click AI purchases in the US via Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT, with plans to expand to the UK and Europe.
• Retailers like Kroger and Lowe's are building their own AI shopping tools to retain control, with Lowe's utilizing Google's AI agent and collaborating with OpenAI.
• XPENG will roll out its VLA 2.0 autonomous driving AI system to customer vehicles in March 2026, enhancing intelligent mobility.
• The MTA is exploring AI for real-time subway safety monitoring, aiming to identify weapons and predict crowd behavior from 15,000 camera feeds.
• Hurricane Capital acquired Kiyomi AI to expand its AI-driven trading capabilities, integrating it with Transient.AI for fund managers.
• The rise of AI-powered trading platforms, used by firms like BlackRock and eToro, is drawing comparisons to the dot-com bubble, raising concerns for retail investors.
• Many companies are underprepared for the operational challenges of running new AI software, potentially leading to an "AI crisis" in managing these applications.
• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang urged an end to negative AI discussions, arguing that pessimism hinders investment and the development of safer, more useful AI.
• Spirit AI open-sourced its Spirit v1.5 Vision-Language-Action model, which achieved a top ranking on the RoboChallenge benchmark, to promote transparency in embodied AI.
• GOP Representative Rob Bresnahan purchased stock in data center supplier Credo Technology while advocating for data center construction in his district.

JD Sports to offer one-click shopping on AI apps

JD Sports plans to let customers buy items directly through AI platforms like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. This new "one-click purchase" technology will first launch in the US in the coming months. Jetan Chowk, the CTO, believes AI is the future of shopping, especially since young shoppers already use AI for product research. Other retailers like Walmart are also exploring AI shopping with Google's Gemini chatbot.

JD Sports launches one-click AI shopping in US

JD Sports is making a big move into one-click AI sales, partnering with Commercetools and Stripe. This technology will allow customers to buy products directly through AI platforms like Microsoft Copilot. The launch will happen in the US, JD's largest market, in the coming months, with plans to expand to the UK and Europe this year. Jetan Chowk, CTO, stated that AI is the future of shopping, especially for young customers aged 18 to 24. CEO Regis Schultz believes this innovation will boost digital offerings and efficiency.

JD Sports brings one-click AI sales to US

JD Sports is launching one-click purchases through AI platforms like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. They are working with Commercetools and Stripe to bring this technology to the US, their biggest market, in the coming months. The company plans to expand this feature to the UK and Europe later this year. Jetan Chowk, CTO, sees AI as the future of shopping, noting that young shoppers already use AI for product discovery. CEO Regis Schultz believes this will improve customer experience and company efficiency.

Retailers build own AI shopping tools to keep control

Retailers like Kroger and Lowe's are testing their own AI shopping tools to avoid losing control over how products are sold. They worry that relying on outside AI platforms could weaken customer loyalty and sales. Kroger is using an AI agent in its mobile app to help shoppers compare items and make purchases, keeping these decisions within its own systems. Lowe's uses Google's AI agent with its Mylow assistant but also works with other companies like OpenAI. Papa Johns is also testing Google's food ordering agent to help customers.

XPENG launches new EV and self-driving AI system

Chinese EV maker XPENG announced major advancements on January 12, 2026. The company launched its 2026 XPENG P7+ flagship sedan, which will be available in 36 countries. XPENG also celebrated producing its 100,000th P7+ vehicle. A key highlight is the new VLA 2.0 autonomous driving AI system, which allows cars to generate driving commands directly from visual inputs. This advanced AI will begin rolling out to customer vehicles in March 2026, marking a significant step towards intelligent mobility.

Congressman traded data center stock while promoting industry

GOP Representative Rob Bresnahan bought stock in Credo Technology, a data center supplier, last June. This happened while he was actively encouraging data centers to be built in his Pennsylvania district. Bresnahan had campaigned on banning congressional stock trading, yet he has made 648 trades since taking office. His office claims his financial adviser handles his trades and he does not know which individual stocks are bought or sold. Critics question the timing of his stock purchase alongside his advocacy for data centers.

MTA explores AI for real-time subway safety monitoring

The MTA is looking into using artificial intelligence to monitor subway cars and buses in real-time. They are asking tech companies for ideas on how AI can identify weapons, spot unattended items, and predict unsafe crowd behaviors through thousands of camera feeds. Currently, monitoring 15,000 cameras across 472 stations is done manually. However, watchdog groups like STOP worry about AI tools leading to wrongful arrests, privacy issues, and misidentifying certain groups of people.

Nvidia CEO urges end to negative AI talk

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is asking people to stop being so negative about artificial intelligence. He believes talk about AI's potential dangers is "extremely hurtful" and not helpful to society or the industry. Huang suggests that focusing on pessimism scares people away from investing in AI, which he thinks would make it safer and more useful. He also questions the motives of those pushing for AI regulation, suggesting it could harm new companies. Critics, however, point out that optimism alone does not remove the real risks AI presents.

Spirit AI releases top-ranked robot control model

Spirit AI, a startup focused on embodied AI, has open-sourced its Spirit v1.5 model. This Vision-Language-Action model recently ranked first on the RoboChallenge benchmark for its ability to help AI agents perform complex tasks. By sharing its foundation model and code, Spirit AI aims to increase transparency and encourage collaboration in the field. The company hopes this move will challenge traditional, costly ways of collecting data and speed up the use of embodied AI in various industries.

AI trading tools spark dot-com bubble fears

The financial industry's move towards AI-powered trading platforms reminds some of the dot-com bubble from 25 years ago. Companies like BlackRock and eToro are using AI to analyze markets and make trades quickly. However, critics worry that these advanced tools might lead retail investors to make the same emotional and costly mistakes that caused big losses during the dot-com crash. While AI offers powerful analysis, experts warn that it does not guarantee profits or remove the need for smart investing habits like diversification and long-term planning. Investors should be careful not to rely too much on AI without understanding its limits.

Hurricane Capital buys Kiyomi AI for trading

Hurricane Capital, an asset management firm, acquired Kiyomi AI on January 12, 2026. This move expands Hurricane Capital's use of AI in trading, following its investment in Transient.AI last year. Kiyomi AI, developed by Jacob Koenig, helps identify market patterns and drivers using advanced AI and trading knowledge. The new technology will be added to Transient.AI's software suite, offering fund managers more powerful AI-driven trading capabilities. This acquisition shows Hurricane Capital's commitment to improving fund performance with advanced technology.

Companies overlook challenges of running AI software

Many companies are quickly building new AI applications but are not preparing for the challenges of actually running them. Author Keith Ferrazzi explains that while AI helps create software faster, managing it still relies heavily on people. Spiros, founder of Resolve, warns that the first AI crisis will be the inability to safely operate all the new software. Most efforts focus on building, but the "run" side involves complex tasks like monitoring, fixing issues, and ensuring security. This part of the process is difficult for both humans and AI due to fragmented systems and a lack of shared knowledge.

Sources

• JD Sports plans to let shoppers buy through AI platforms
• JD Sports makes major move in one-click AI sales
• JD Sports makes major move in one-click AI sales
• Retailers like Kroger and Lowe’s test AI agents without handing control to Google
• A Chinese EV maker is rolling out self-driving tech to everyday cars
• Bresnahan traded AI stock while he pushed for data centers
• MTA probing AI to identify weapons, monitor safety threats in...
• Jensen Huang Is Begging You to Stop Being So Negative About AI
• RoboChallenge's Top-Ranked Embodied AI Model Goes Open Source, Challenging Clean Data Collection Paradigm
• The dangerous parallel between AI trading tools and dot-com era speculation
• Hurricane Capital Acquires Kiyomi AI, Expanding Its AI-Driven Trading Capabilities
• The AI Glass Wall You’re Not Planning For