Author: Stephanie Beck

Walmart will test self-driving cars controlled by artificial intelligence in US cities

Stephanie Beck
Artificial intelligence - Self-driving car

The retail giant is working with Ford and Argo AI in an expansion of its major partnerships. Walmart has announced that it is partnering with Ford Motor and Argo AI in order to test self-driving vehicles controlled by artificial intelligence in several American cities. The collaboration will be testing Ford Escape hybrids equipped with Argo AI technology for deliveries. The artificial intelligence driven vehicles will be used for delivering Walmart orders in Washington DC, Miami, and Austin. This is a notable extension of Walmart’s self-driving vehicle program. The technology for…

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Will QR codes popularized in the pandemic place serving staff jobs at risk?

Stephanie Beck
QR codes - scan to pay

Some experts predict that the shift to contactless technology could mean some lost positions are gone. The pandemic created a powerful opportunity for QR codes to achieve the popularity they had never seen before despite their ready availability, low-cost and ease of use. They helped many companies to rapidly pivot to contactless processes that made it easier to serve customers in a way that would conveniently provide a sense of safety against additional spread of COVID-19. At the same time, the tech helped to reduce the number of tasks some…

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TikTok is testing out new augmented reality developer tools

Stephanie Beck
Augmented Reality developer tools - AR

The social media app is trialing AR as its rivals Facebook and Snap have been openly doing the same. TikTok is following in the footsteps of some of its top rivals by testing new augmented reality developer tools. These could eventually provide the opportunity for creators to build AR effects into the popular social media app. The platform remains in the private beta stage of development and is called TikTok Effect Studio. According to a recent report from The Verge, the TikTok Effect Studio is in its private beta phase…

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IRS looks to augmented reality for digital user experience improvements

Stephanie Beck
Augmented reality - IRS

The Internal Revenue Service wants to use AR to overlay relevant information on existing forms. The IRS has issued a draft request for proposals (RFP) with the intention of using augmented reality (AR) to help boost the digital user experience for Americans using mobile devices. The goal is to let Americans use technology they already have to make existing forms clearer. The IRS’s draft RFP suggests that the government agency is looking for augmented reality solutions it can apply to existing forms. In that way, contextual support information can be…

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Virginia announces rollout of QR code vaccine records

Stephanie Beck
QR code vaccine records

The state now has downloadable passports for those who are vaccinated, soon to include scannable barcodes. Virginia has announced that residents of the state will soon be able to download QR code vaccine records that they can use to prove they have received their shots. Many businesses and organizations now require their employees to be able to prove they are vaccinated. The FDA is approaching being able to provide full licensure for businesses to be able to make vaccination a requirement. As a result, the QR code vaccination records will…

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