Walmart Mexico is partnering with retail tech firm Vusion to roll out the EdgeSense connected store platform across all Walmart Express locations, with plans to expand to Supercenters. This initiative, which includes the installation of over 1.7 million electronic shelf labels and 180,000 smart rails, aims to modernize store operations, enhance personalization, and improve customer experience through AI and real-time data. The deployment marks the first large-scale implementation of EdgeSense in Latin America.

Amazon has enhanced its Alexa+ AI assistant to allow users to order food from Uber Eats and Grubhub in a conversational manner. This feature aims to produce a more natural ordering experience by enabling users to request cuisines, explore menus and customize meals within a single conversation. The integration requires users to link their accounts through the Alexa app, and it is available on Echo Show 8 devices and larger. This development is part of Amazon's broader strategy to expand adaptive interaction models, with potential applications in grocery shopping.

Home Depot has appointed Dr. Franziska Bell as its new chief technology officer, effective April 6, marking a significant step in its AI strategy. Bell has experience as the chief data, AI and analytics officer at Ford Motor Company and senior vice president of digital technology at BP, bringing extensive experience in data leadership and AI. Her role will focus on integrating AI and machine learning to enhance customer and employee experiences, aligning with Home Depot's goal to streamline operations and improve service.

Ulta Beauty has doubled the number of stores fulfilling ecommerce orders to more than 1,000, making the most of an AI-powered order management system to optimize its fulfillment processes. The expansion aligns with broader retail trends, as competitors like Walmart and Target also leverage their stores for fulfillment.

Amazon has acquired New York-based Fauna Robotics, which recently launched the Sprout humanoid robot. The acquisition comes as Amazon continues to expand its consumer robotics portfolio, following previous setbacks such as the canceled iRobot deal in 2024. Fauna Robotics will now operate as an Amazon company, with its founders and employees joining Amazon's New York operations.

Huawei's growth has slowed significantly, with a 2.2% revenue increase in 2025, down from 22% the previous year, as Apple's iPhone 17 gains traction in China and local AI chip competitors emerge. Despite maintaining its lead in the Chinese smartphone market, Huawei faces challenges from domestic firms like Cambricon Technologies and tech giants such as Alibaba Group that are advancing their own AI chip technologies. Huawei is investing heavily in AI and focusing on a three-year chip technology roadmap.