🚀 Top 3 Channels for E-commerce Entrepreneurs 🚀

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📌World e-commerce & Crypto – How blockchain and cryptocurrencies are transforming e-commerce. Insights, case studies, and new opportunities.

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A hockey ticket was sold on eBay for $10,500.

A ticket from the debut game of Russian forward and Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin in the National Hockey League (NHL), signed by the player, was sold on the eBay online auction for $10,500. This was reported by journalist and business analyst Darren Rovell on his X social media page.

Ovechkin made his NHL debut on October 5, 2005, in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Amazon tops the top 20 e-commerce platforms in the global ranking.

We Are Social has published an annual report on popular online platforms. The leaders of the ranking are Amazon, Shopee (leader in Southeast Asia) and Flipkart (leader in India).

In terms of online sales, Russia is still behind many countries: in the US, the share of e-commerce is 33.7% of total spending on consumer goods, in China - 31.2%, in the UK - 23.2%, while in Russia this figure is only 6.6%.

By 2030, 9 out of 10 loyalty program owners will use AI on a daily basis.

Currently, about 40% of loyalty program owners already incorporate AI into their work, while approximately 50% plan to implement it in the future. These insights come from the Global Customer Loyalty 2025 report, which also examines the impact of AI technologies on e-commerce. The survey gathered opinions from over 600 company executives and loyalty experts worldwide.

According to analysts' forecasts, by 2030, AI will be used daily by 90% of loyalty program owners. In the loyalty sector, AI will primarily be applied to customer support, program enhancement, and analytics.

Amazon is implementing robots to automate its warehouses, but it seems they haven’t yet been taught the most important thing — traffic rules. Two "smart" assistants created a traffic jam on a flat surface and are just waiting to see who gives up first.

The global artificial intelligence market is advancing by leaps and bounds.

In 2022, the annual AI market growth was estimated at 35–40% in the medium term. By 2024, forecasts had already increased to 60–85%. According to the Bain Technology Report, the global AI market could reach $1 trillion by 2027. E-commerce is no exception.

According to a Prosus study, AI has already reduced e-commerce delivery costs by 16% by automating 25 million routes per month. Artificial intelligence moderates and processes 95% of listings (2 million per day) and 7 million images daily. Additionally, 56% of customer support requests are automated, leading to a 40% cost reduction.

LEGO reports record revenue for 2024 — with a little help from Harry Potter.

Despite a decline in global demand for building sets and children's toys in general, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and other collaborations with popular franchises and brands helped LEGO achieve strong results.

In 2024, LEGO generated $10.79 billion in revenue, marking a 13% increase compared to 2023. Net profit also grew by 5.3% year-over-year, reaching $2 billion.

Xiaomi’s net profit soars by 90% in Q4 to $1.24 billion amid record revenue growth – The Wall Street Journal.

▶️ Quarterly revenue surged by 49%, surpassing $14 billion for the first time. Xiaomi's annual net profit increased by 35%.

▶️ Smartphones were the key growth driver, with sales rising by 16%. Additionally, home appliances, tablets, and lifestyle products contributed to the growth, with revenue increasing by 30% in this segment.

▶️ Gross profit from EV production reached 18.5%. Analysts note that Xiaomi’s electric vehicle business has boosted investor confidence in the company’s growth potential, driving a 53% stock surge in Q4 and nearly 70% growth since the start of the year.

40% of consumers would be more interested in joining a loyalty program if it used AI.

When examining how different demographics think, the key takeaway is that loyalty programs powered by AI are not yet a universal selling point.

Although younger generations are eager to be early adopters, older generations, like Boomers and Gen X are more indifferent towards AI in loyalty programs.

World’s 20 happiest countries in 2025.

1. Finland

2. Denmark

3. Iceland

4. Sweden

5. Netherlands

6. Costa Rica

7. Norway

8. Israel

9. Luxembourg

10. Mexico

11. Australia

12. New Zealand

13. Switzerland

14. Belgium

15. Ireland

16. Lithuania

17. Austria

18. Canada

19. Slovenia

20. Czech Republic

At the bottom of the list Afghanistan (No. 147) is once again last on the list. Sierra Leone (No. 146), Lebanon (No. 145), Malawi (No. 144) and Zimbabwe (No. 143) make up the rest of the bottom five for happiness.

Which country has the most actively developing marketplaces?

Apple to replace Siri division head amid AI feature rollout challenges.

Apple is preparing for a leadership shake-up in its division responsible for Siri and AI development. According to Bloomberg, Mike Rockwell, who led the launch of the Vision Pro headset, will replace John Giannandrea as head of the Siri division.

This decision is reportedly driven by delays in developing new AI features and growing dissatisfaction among Apple’s top leadership.

In March, during an internal meeting, one of Apple’s senior executives admitted that Siri is going through a “rough patch,” adding that project leaders bear “significant personal responsibility” for the rollout of AI tools.

Giannandrea will retain a role at the company: Bloomberg notes that a sudden departure might have given the impression that Apple is struggling in the AI race.

🎓 How AI Is Transforming Universities.

Key takeaways from Section’s podcast: “Building an AI-Native University” (Speakers: Mark Daley, Chief AI Officer at Western University, and Greg Shove, CEO of Section)

🧠 AI as a 24/7 Personal Tutor
Fully personalized, always available, and never tired.
The results? Comparable to one-on-one tutoring.
In the future: AI mentors by subscription — for life.

💪 Don’t Let AI Do the Work for You
If AI writes your essay, you’re not learning.
It’s like watching someone else lift weights at the gym.
Use AI to boost your learning — not replace it.

🤖 Students Use AI, But Reject It From Professors
They love GPT for writing, but when professors grade with AI —
It’s suddenly “unfair” and “inhuman.”

📉 AI Is a Threat to Entry-Level Jobs
Many early-career roles will be automated.
Grads must adapt fast, think critically, and master AI collaboration.

🏛 The Future Looks Like Cambridge in the 1100s
Less technical skill training, more meaning, debate, and philosophy.
Education will be less about ROI — more about identity and purpose.

🌍 “UN GPT” — A Free AI Teacher for Everyone
Sounds utopian? The tech is already here.
All that’s missing is the will to make it happen.

📜 What Wins: Knowledge or Brand?
AI can already assess real skills better than diplomas.
But names like MIT & Harvard still carry social weight.
Will an AI-certified graduate ever equal elite alumni?

👥 Universities = Spaces for Human Growth
In a world of automation, empathy, leadership & creativity
become the real curriculum.

👨‍🏫 Professors Become Mentors
AI handles the routine.
Teachers guide, coach, and create meaningful discussions.
No more passive lectures — it’s active learning now.

📌 Want more insights on AI & the future of education?
Drop a + or leave a comment 👇

Alibaba and E-Mart launch joint venture in South Korea.

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba and South Korean retailer E-Mart have announced the formation of a joint venture, merging their platforms AliExpress Korea and Gmarket. Although both platforms will continue to operate independently, the combined venture is valued at approximately $4 billion.

This move is aimed at strengthening both companies’ positions in South Korea’s e-commerce market, where Coupang currently holds the lead. Previously, in 2021, E-Mart acquired a controlling stake in the South Korean arm of eBay for $3 billion.

ChatGPT is addictive — study finds.

Researchers from MIT have discovered that some users of the neural network exhibit real signs of addiction: preoccupation, withdrawal symptoms, loss of control, and even mild psychological distress.

Participants who were lonely and interacted with the AI too frequently became anxious when its behavior changed.

Interestingly, the strongest addiction was observed among people who used ChatGPT for work — brainstorming ideas, seeking advice on tasks, or asking it to write code.

An Australian traveled to Chile without a visa because ChatGPT told him he didn't need one — unfortunately, it was wrong.

Strategic management expert Mark Pollard shared his story on the social network Threads. Since early March, he has been giving lectures across Latin America. On Sunday, he was scheduled to fly from Mexico City to Santiago.

Before the trip, Pollard asked ChatGPT whether he needed a visa to enter Chile. The chatbot confidently replied that Australian citizens could stay in the country for up to 90 days without a visa. Reassured by this answer, Pollard didn’t double-check the information on official sources.

He only discovered the mistake at the airport in Mexico City, right before boarding. The information was outdated: Chile had introduced visa requirements for Australians back in 2019, but the chatbot was relying on old data. What’s more, every user who asked about visa requirements for Australians traveling to Chile received the same incorrect response.

“I asked if I could sue it [ChatGPT], but it said ‘No,’” Pollard wrote.

OpenAI has launched a free platform for learning how to work with neural networks.

The company introduced OpenAI Academy — an online hub offering educational materials on artificial intelligence. It will include training resources on how to use tools like ChatGPT and Sora, recommendations for integrating AI into workflows, as well as user stories and practical advice.

Originally launched as an in-person program for developers, the Academy has now expanded to a broader audience: students, educators, entrepreneurs, and job seekers.

OpenAI also plans to organize offline events in collaboration with universities and employment support organizations. All training is completely free.

Amazon seized over 15 million counterfeit products in 2024.

Since 2020, Amazon has been actively combating counterfeit goods. Over this period, more than 24,000 violators have been held accountable. Last year alone, the company invested over $1 billion and hired thousands of specialists to enhance its technologies, including artificial intelligence. These efforts enabled Amazon to block 99% of counterfeit listings on the platform.

Despite the expansion of its product assortment, the number of confirmed brand complaints about counterfeits dropped by 35%. In 2024, Amazon launched a product verification program called Transparency, giving brands direct access to the system. This allowed over 2.5 billion products to be verified and increased the number of participating brands from 10,000 to 88,000 over five years.

Bill Gates: AI will only be unable to replace three professions.

According to Bill Gates, in the next ten years, artificial intelligence will be able to perform most of the tasks currently handled by humans.

In his view, AI will transform the world more profoundly than any previous technological revolution.

We are entering an era of “free intelligence,” where expert knowledge becomes widely accessible. At the same time, AI is becoming increasingly capable—learning to perform the most complex tasks faster and more affordably than humans.

Which professions will AI not be able to replace?

Gates highlights just three key areas where humans will remain essential:

1️⃣ Programming

AI will certainly be able to write code independently, but developers will take on broader responsibilities: designing and training models, verifying their logic, and ensuring safety.

“It’s like saying: should we even learn multiplication if computers can do it for us?” Gates jokes.

2️⃣ Science (especially Biology)

Algorithms are already analyzing DNA and assisting in discoveries, but humans still guide research directions and interpret the results—especially in fields where ethics and long-term impact are critical.

3️⃣ Energy

According to Gates, this is one of the most complex areas, and cannot be fully delegated to AI. The industry requires skilled professionals capable of making real-time decisions.

H&M to create AI twins for its models.

In 2025, H&M plans to create AI-generated twins of 30 models currently under contract with the company. These digital avatars will be used in marketing campaigns and social media instead of traditional photoshoots.

The brand promises the following:

📍Each AI avatar will be a unique digital replica of a real person.

📍All images will be marked with watermarks to clearly indicate that the model shown is an AI version, not a real person.

📍Models will receive the same compensation for the use of their digital likeness as they would for a traditional photoshoot.

In the photo // model Matilda Gvarliani (left) and her digital twin.

Surge in users after ChatGPT's Ghibli-Style filter overloads OpenAI servers.

The buzz around a new ChatGPT filter mimicking the style of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki caused a sharp spike in user activity last week. As reported by Reuters, OpenAI's servers became overloaded, prompting a temporary restriction on the feature’s availability.

According to Similarweb, the average number of weekly active users exceeded 150 million for the first time this year. SensorTower also reported that after the GPT-4o model update, which enhanced image generation capabilities, the number of app downloads, active users, and subscription revenue all hit record highs.

Globally, ChatGPT app downloads and active users increased by 11% and 5% respectively compared to the previous week, while in-app purchase revenue rose by 6%, the analytics firm stated.

The widespread use of the Ghibli-style filter has also raised questions about potential copyright violations. “The legal landscape around AI-generated images that imitate Studio Ghibli's distinctive style remains unclear. Copyright law generally protects specific works, not artistic styles themselves,” said Evan Brown, a partner at the law firm Neal & McDevitt.

“It’s wonderful to see how much people love the images in ChatGPT. But our GPUs are melting,” wrote OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on X following the update.