Recent developments in artificial intelligence are significantly impacting both the job market and retail industry, introducing new opportunities and challenges. A recent survey revealed that nearly 20% of US hiring managers have encountered candidates employing deepfake technology during video interviews, raising concerns over authenticity and security.
Dawid Moczadło, cofounder of Vidoc Security Lab, shared an experience where a candidate’s face repeatedly blurred and glitched during a Zoom interview. When asked to hold his hand in front of his face to disrupt the AI filter, the candidate ignored the request, leading Moczadło to end the interview. This incident underscores the growing sophistication of AI tools used to deceive in professional settings.
The prevalence of deepfake technology extends beyond recruitment; some applications are from malicious actors, including North Korean cyber operatives aiming to breach sensitive corporate data. In the United States, about 17% of hiring managers reported encountering fake identities attached to job applications, especially in the IT sector.
Meanwhile, in the retail sector, companies are adopting AI to enhance efficiency and customer experience. Morrisons, the UK grocery chain, recently trialed the Simbe Tally robot for shelf scanning, aiming to improve stock accuracy and availability. Seamus McHugh from Simbe expressed excitement about the deployment, noting it’s the first in the UK, with plans for expansion.
Another innovation comes from Claim Time Solicitors in Birmingham, which is now using Generative AI to better detect fraud in insurance claims. Atif Syed, CTO at the firm, stated that AI helps identify inconsistencies in claimant reports quickly, enabling quicker and fairer processing.
Furthermore, retail giants like Shopify are integrating e-commerce capabilities directly into AI assistants such as ChatGPT, making shopping more seamless within chat environments. Industry experts suggest this could revolutionize online shopping, with AI handling everything from product searches to completing purchases, potentially disrupting traditional e-commerce platforms.
In a related development, Klarna’s CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski highlighted that AI assistants are set to transform retail significantly. He emphasized that innovations over the past two decades, from infrastructure improvements to curated shopping experiences, are paving the way for AI to further personalize and streamline shopping.
Other noteworthy advancements include IXI, a Finnish startup backed by Amazon, raising significant funding for its smart glasses, and Morrisons’ deployment of new Point of Sale solutions supported by NCR Voyix. Additionally, Unilever is deploying GS1 Digital Link-enabled 2D barcodes globally to enhance product information access.
Finally, BuzzFeed has partnered with Shopsense to incorporate shoppable content, allowing readers to purchase products directly from articles, merging content and commerce effortlessly.
As AI technology continues to evolve rapidly, experts and industry leaders agree that vigilance, innovation, and ethical use are essential. The question remains: How will these technological advances reshape our daily lives and industries further in the coming years?
