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Target to Roll Out Transformative GenAI Technology to its Store Team Members Chainwide

Published

3 months ago

June 20, 2024

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Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today announced plans to roll out a new generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tool to team members at all of its nearly 2,000 stores by August, becoming the first major retailer to share that it is bringing this technology to its store team members across the U.S. The tool, called Store Companion, is a GenAI-powered chatbot designed by Target that can answer on-the-job process questions, coach new team members, support store operations management and more.
Store Companion’s goal is to make the teams’ jobs easier and allow them to work more quickly and efficiently, offering faster service and deeper guest engagement to make the shopping experience even better. The initiative is part of Target’s broader strategic approach to using GenAI across its business to empower its team, enhance the guest experience and support the company’s long-term growth.
“We know technology will continue to play an outsized role in the future of retail — for our team members, our guests and our business. With that in mind, we’re continually experimenting with new tools to make it even easier for our team to do their jobs and to bring more of what guests love about shopping at Target to life,” said Brett Craig, executive vice president and chief information officer, Target. “The transformative nature of GenAI is helping us accelerate the rate of innovation across our operations, and we’re excited about the role these new tools and applications will play in driving growth.”
How the Store Companion tool works
The Store Companion chatbot will be available as an app on store team members’ specially equipped handheld devices, providing immediate answers to their questions about processes and procedures. For example, team members can input prompts like “How do I sign a guest up for a Target Circle Card?” and “How do I restart the cash register in the event of a power outage?” and receive instructions and resources in seconds. The tool also serves as a store process expert and coach, helping new and seasonal team members learn on the job.
Testing, learning and improving the tool
“Generative AI is game-changing technology and Store Companion will make daily tasks easier and enable our team to respond to guests’ requests with confidence and efficiency,” said Mark Schindele, executive vice president and chief stores officer, Target. “The tool frees up time and attention for our team to serve guests with care and to create a shopping destination that invites discovery, ease and moments of everyday joy.”
To develop this best-in-class resource for its store team members, Target’s in-house technology team used real frequently asked questions and process documents from its store teams across the U.S. The team worked quickly, taking the project from its initial testing phase to planned rollout in just six months. Target is currently piloting the tool at about 400 stores, using the teams’ feedback to improve the experience ahead of the chainwide rollout.
Early feedback from pilot teams indicates that Store Companion is positively impacting their daily work.
“We’re hearing great feedback from our team about the new app,” said Jake Seaquist, store director at one of the pilot stores in Champlin, Minn. “Streamlining day-to-day tasks goes a long way with our team members and adds up to more time spent with guests and a better guest experience across the store.”
Since the pilot began, experienced team members have been sharing their expertise and adding materials to help shape the tool.
The power of AI across Target’s business
Store Companion is the latest example of how Target is accelerating its use of GenAI to create even more personalized and intuitive experiences for team members and consumers. In addition to Store Companion, the retailer plans to roll out another internal GenAI tool in the coming months, starting with its headquarters team members. When placed in the hands of Target’s most important asset, its team, this technology has the potential to transform day-to-day tasks and empower team members to be more efficient and spend time doing the most meaningful work.
Target also is using GenAI to elevate its digital experience for consumers, including GenAI-powered product pages and search capabilities that curate the most relevant results and make it even easier for consumers to find everything they need when shopping on Target.com. For example:

Enhancements to thousands of product display pages on Target.com this year have created more relevant, guest-friendly experiences. Target is using GenAI to summarize reviews and make the product descriptions on its site pages even more relevant to help shoppers make confident purchase decisions. It also enhances the items’ product titles with more robust information to help shoppers search and find the right items faster. More than 100,000 of these pages are expected to be complete by the end of the summer.
Guided Search has begun rolling out on Target.com, which allows guests to search the site using conversational language and discover even more of the assortment through intelligent, curated results. For example, a search for “summer party” will return a broader range of relevant items, from party supplies and invitations to outdoor tableware, meat for grilling, a variety of snack and drink ideas and more. It also will help shoppers remember commonly forgotten items such as sun protection, insect repellents, outdoor games and other essentials. This enhanced search experience will continue to expand and will be available to all consumers later this summer.

In addition to these enhancements, Target will continue testing dozens of additional GenAI applications throughout 2024 and beyond. The retailer remains committed to the safe and responsible use of the technology and is focused on building a GenAI ecosystem that will continue to drive its business and enhance the team member and guest experiences while embracing the future of retail.
Miscellaneous
Statements in this release regarding the company’s future financial and operational performance and enhancements to its technologies and capabilities are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause the company’s results to differ materially. The most important risks and uncertainties are described in Item 1A of the company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2024. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
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Prime Minister concludes successful visit from President of France to Canada

Published

16 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Wladimir P.

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The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, welcomed the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, to Canada from September 25 to 26, 2024. With stops in Ottawa, Ontario, and Montréal, Quebec, the visit helped further strengthen the close ties between our countries and advance our shared priorities.
The leaders announced three key declarations that will align Canada and France’s work to preserve peace and security, take ambitious climate action, protect the environment, and responsibly harness the full potential of artificial intelligence (AI).
The first of these three declarations, the Canada-France Declaration on a Stronger Defence and Security Partnership, underscores Canada and France’s steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal invasion. It also reaffirms our contributions to regional stability and security in the Indo-Pacific and reflects our co-operation in managing emergencies, modernizing our armed forces, and combatting foreign interference.
The two leaders discussed shared, ongoing work to respond to the humanitarian situation in Haiti and reiterated their support for the United Nations-authorized Multinational Security Support mission in the country. Canada and France are in steadfast support of Haitian-led solutions to the conflict that will make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of the Haitian people – and build a better future.
Building on the progress made at the United Nations General Assembly and the Summit of the Future earlier this week, Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron highlighted the critical importance of continued action to fight climate change and protect our oceans. In the Canada-France Declaration on the Ocean, the leaders underlined the vital role that oceans play for the environment, the climate, the economy, and food and energy security throughout the world. To advance our work, Prime Minister Trudeau announced Canada’s membership in the Paris Pact for People and the Planet. The Pact, led by France and in partnership with global leaders, emphasizes collective action to accelerate sustainable development and create opportunities to help lift vulnerable populations out of poverty.
During the visit, the Prime Minister and the President met with AI experts, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to discuss the risks and benefits of this new technology. Canada and France have world-leading AI ecosystems, including leadership roles in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), which has 29 members worldwide. A testament to our progress in growing a dynamic AI industry, GPAI’s first two centres of expertise opened in Canada and France. Moving forward on this work, the Prime Minister and the President announced the Canada-France Declaration on Artificial Intelligence. The Declaration reiterates our countries’ commitment to a safe use of AI that respects human rights and democratic values.
During President Macron’s visit, Canada was also named Country of the Year for the Viva Technology 2025 technology conference, which will be held in Paris next year. At this event, Canada’s delegation will collaborate with the international community and meet with thousands of visionary start-ups, investors, organizations, and researchers to leverage advances in AI to strengthen our economy, increase productivity, and create new opportunities for Canadians. SCALE AI, Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster dedicated to AI, will lead Canada’s business delegation.
Prime Minister Trudeau and President Macron reaffirmed their commitment to promoting the French language and La Francophonie’s institutions ahead of the next Sommet de la Francophonie, which will be held in Villers-Cotterêts and Paris, France, on October 4 and 5, 2024. They also renewed their commitment to strengthening strategic coordination in preparation for the successive G7 Presidencies that Canada and France will hold, in 2025 and 2026 respectively.
Quote“Canada and France’s relationship is built on shared history, a common language, and democratic values. President Macron’s visit to Canada is a testament to the enduring friendship between our two countries, and with the progress we have made over this visit, we will move forward to build a fairer and more prosperous future for our peoples.”— The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Quick Facts

This was President Macron’s second visit to Canada. It followed both leaders’ participation in the United Nations General Assembly and Summit of the Future in New York City, United States of America.
As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the G7 and the G20, a founding member of the European Union, and a key partner in the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, France is a key ally for Canada on the international stage.
In 2023, France was Canada’s third largest merchandise export market in the European Union, and its 12th largest trade partner globally, with two-way merchandise trade totalling $12.9 billion.
That same year, Canadian exports to France amounted to $4.3 billion, while imports from France totalled $8.7 billion.
In France, Canada is represented by an embassy in Paris and consulates in Lyon, Nice, and Toulouse. France is represented in Canada by its embassy in Ottawa and consulates in Vancouver, Toronto, Montréal, Québec, and Moncton.

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Relativity Spotlights Legal Industry Leaders at the 2024 Innovation Awards

Published

16 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Wladimir P.

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Relativity, a global legal technology company, today announced the winners of this year’s Innovation Awards at Relativity Fest. The Innovation Awards celebrate the trailblazing individuals and teams building custom solutions, empowering their peers and forging new paths to improve the legal industry and its communities.
“Another year of the Innovation Awards signals another opportunity to celebrate our community’s dedication to making a positive impact– whether that be through developing new solutions, providing excellent customer service, or elevating and advocating for their peers in the legal industry,” said Laurie Usewicz, Chief Partner Officer at Relativity. “This year’s winners exemplify the impassioned and innovative spirit that makes the future of our industry a bright one.”
The winners hail from, or work directly with law firms, financial institutions and consultant management companies large and small, private and public. Through a combined process of a judging committee and a community vote, Best Innovation winners are selected based on how they’ve leveraged the Relativity application programming interfaces in creative ways to solve Relativity’s customers’ most unique challenges.
In addition to the standard six individual and two Best Innovation awards, a new Best Innovation category was added for this year, Developer Partner. This award recognizes solutions created by Relativity’s independent software vendor (ISV) community that are offered directly to customers. Eligibility is restricted to solutions that are not owned by an Enterprise or Solution, Advisor, or Provider Partner.
The 2024 Innovation Awards winners are:

Artificial Intelligence: Ben Sexton, Vice President, JND eDiscovery
Customer Experience: Jenna Rooney, Director, Client Services, Arete Incident Response
Education & Mentorship: Deedra Smith, Managing Director, FTI Consulting
Inclusion: Vazantha Meyers, Vice President, Discovery Services, Haystack ID
Security: Jenna Rooney, Director, Client Services, Arete Incident Response
Stellar Women: Stephanie L. Goutos, Lead Practice Innovation Attorney, Gunderson Dettmer
Best Innovation: Developer Partner: Redaction Suggestions in Blackout by Milyli
Best Innovation: Enterprise: Flywheel by Troutman Pepper eMerge
Best Innovation: Partner: GenAI Toolbox by EY Switzerland

Each of the award winners above exemplify what it means to be a changemaker at the individual, organizational and industry levels. All award winners are determined by a combination of Relativity judging committees unique to each category and a community vote.
Relativity congratulates all submissions for the innovative work delivered this past year.
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MC Digital Realty wins Frost & Sullivan’s 2024 Japan Data Center Services Company of the Year Award

Published

16 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Wladimir P.

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Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR), the largest global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions, today announced that MC Digital Realty: A Mitsubishi Corporation and Digital Realty Company, has been awarded Frost & Sullivan’s 2024 Company of the Year award for Japan’s data center services industry.
MC Digital Realty is at the forefront of the market, delivering advanced technologies and strategic investments that provide Japanese businesses with secure, innovative, and sustainable infrastructure that enables artificial intelligence (AI) innovation.
MC Digital Realty’s state-of-the-art data centers are optimized for AI, offer the necessary flexibility and scalability for intensive model training and real-time inferencing, and provide advanced liquid cooling systems that ensure optimal performance for demanding AI tasks. Demonstrating its commitment to sustainability, MC Digital Realty leverages its relationship with Mitsubishi Corporation to prioritize energy efficiency, matching electricity usage in its colocation data halls with 100% renewable energy to minimize its carbon footprint.
Frost & Sullivan also recognized MC Digital Realty’s operational excellence. The company’s robust network of resilient data centers is strategically located in low-seismic regions and employs cutting-edge seismic isolation technology to protect its infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted service and maximum reliability.
MC Digital Realty’s data centers also leverage the power of PlatformDIGITAL®, Digital Realty’s global data center platform. It provides customers access to a vast ecosystem of over 1,100 cloud and IT services, as well as 1,200 network services across 300+ data centers in 50+ metros worldwide.
“The company demonstrates a strong focus on the Japanese market through its continued investments. Strategic partnerships and innovations aligning with transforming customer expectations enable the service provider to achieve success in the country,” said Nishchal Khorana, Global Vice President of ICT at Frost & Sullivan.
Serene Nah, Digital Realty’s Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific, said: “We are honored to receive the award and recognition from Frost & Sullivan, which validates MC Digital Realty’s commitment to serving partners and customers as they accelerate their AI innovation journeys in Japan. As AI continues to shape the future, Digital Realty remains committed to optimizing data center infrastructure for peak workload performance, and to meet the highest standards of innovation, while ensuring sustainability, security, and resilience.”
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