The Broadmind Business & Innovation Tracker + Service Buddy Intro

How retailers and brands are leveraging advanced AI, immersive tech, and personalized experiences to redefine retail, luxury, and travel.

Apr 07, 2025

Before we start - some retail innovation news - we’ve launched the beta of a new AI knowledge system called Service Buddy - it’s a B2C tool in the automotive space and we’re looking for beta-users who are fed up with being overcharged when they take their car in for service - and beta-partners who want to help the motorist. This LinkedIn post explains the concept and the video is our initial demo:

And meanwhile, in this edition of the Business and Innovation Tracker, we spotlight how top companies like Google, Meta, and United Airlines are tapping AI and immersive technologies to create smarter, more personalized consumer experiences. From DeepMind’s AI independently mastering complex tasks, to Meta’s strategic moves in AI and VR gaming, these stories highlight how leading brands—including Delta, L'Oréal, and Trader Joe's—are creatively adapting to shifting market dynamics, enhancing customer engagement, and maintaining competitive advantage.

Business & Innovation News

First up, Trader Joe's VP of Marketing has been explaining how the retailer is bucking the retail tech trend. Unlike Walmart, Kroger, and Amazon, who are pushing data-driven platforms, Matt Sloan says that Trader Joe’s continues to focus on simple, face-to-face interactions—a strategy that keeps their loyal customers returning.

Luxury home furnishings retailer RH posted strong Q4 results despite tough market conditions, staying focused on international expansion and innovative gallery concepts to maintain their premium market position.

In beauty news, L'Oréal is expecting softer sales with modest growth of just 1.4% for Q1 2025 due to cooling markets in China and the U.S. Still, they're optimistic about bouncing back through strategic initiatives in sustainability, AI, and e-commerce.

Estée Lauder Companies' luxury fragrance brand Le Labo has opened a new boutique in Bangkok's Ari neighborhood. With a calm, locally-inspired aesthetic and personalized shopping experiences, it reflects how luxury brands are trying to connect with local community through authenticity.

LVMH’s jewelry icon Tiffany & Co. has launched their latest campaign featuring Oscar-winner Mikey Madison, Greta Lee, and Anna Weyant. The fresh take on their HardWear line emphasizes resilience and authenticity, reinforcing Tiffany’s ongoing modernization under the french luxury corporation.

In travel news, United Airlines is ramping up its presence in the Asia-Pacific market, launching daily flights from LA and San Francisco via Hong Kong to Thailand and Vietnam this October. It's all part of CEO Scott Kirby’s plan to pair premium service with the latest cabin tech, positioning United strongly in an increasingly crowded global market.

Delta Air Lines is also upgrading its flight plans too, offering free Delta Sync WiFi on transatlantic flights and planning to expand the service to South America later this year. By early 2026, they'll introduce an advanced dual-network WiFi solution on their Boeing 717 fleet, enhancing connectivity to unprecedented levels. Clearly, Delta is investing big to improve the passenger experience.

In tech, Google's DeepMind just achieved an impressive milestone with their tech: their new AI system, Dreamer, independently mastered Minecraft—without any instructions. It even figured out how to mine diamonds, one of the game's toughest tasks. Why's that exciting? It hints at Google's larger goal of creating AI that learns intuitively, potentially enhancing everything from search to shopping experiences.

Next, Meta has rolled out its enhanced Llama 4 AI model, featuring versions like Scout, Maverick, and the massive Behemoth. Maverick, in particular, is turning heads by reportedly outperforming top competitors like OpenAI's GPT-4o and Google's Gemini 2.0. Meta’s already embedding these models into WhatsApp, Instagram Direct, and their AI-dedicated platforms, positioning itself firmly as an accessible AI powerhouse.

And here's something marketers should note: new data shows that Instagram remains a heavyweight for brand marketing, with over 75% of marketers actively using the platform in 2025. While Facebook usage has dipped to 61%, Instagram dominates metrics like site traffic, engagement, and influencer campaigns. Meanwhile, Threads, Meta's newer platform, hasn't yet caught significant marketer interest. Clearly, visual and interactive content continues to win out.

And speaking of Meta, they're bringing one of the world's most beloved strategy games, Civilization VII, into virtual reality on April 10th for their Quest headsets. Rather than a fully immersive setup, they've opted for a "Command Table" view that mixes real-world surroundings with digital elements—perfect for extended gameplay. It'll be interesting to see if strategy fans warm up to longer sessions in VR.