Do you know why your CMO needs artificial intelligence NOW? Because: CMOs must show measurable financial results for the budget they invested! Wonder how AI relates to financial results? I'm not surprised since the answer may not be obvious. With an ever-increasing number of smart devices, apps and methods, consumers have more and more ways to get information and create content digitally. In the process, they create an explosion of data for marketers to track and analyze.

Siemens Healthineers has entered into a merger agreement with US – based Corindus Vascular Robotics a developer and producer of robotic systems for minimally invasive procedures. Under the terms of the agreement, Siemens Healthineers will acquire all fully diluted shares of Corindus for $4.28 per share in cash or $1.1 billion in total. The transaction is expected to be closed by end of calendar year 2019, subject to Corindus shareholder approval, receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The Corindus board fully supports the acquisition proposal. Corindus is headquartered in Waltham, Boston, Massachusetts and currently has approximately 100 employees.

Shopify today announced it is acquiring 6 River Systems, a startup focused on fulfillment automation for ecommerce and retail operations. The deal is valued at approximately $450 million -- 60% in cash and 40% in shares. At its Unite partner and developer conference in June, the company announced its Shopify Fulfillment Network, which uses machine learning to ensure timely deliveries and lower shipping costs. Shopify's fulfillment centers span California, Georgia, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The network, which is only available in early access, supports merchants that ship between 10 and 10,000 packages per day.

McDonald's [MCD] share price has gained 19% this year. The purchase of Apprente, which is aimed at automating its drive-thru operations, is a clear indication of a more tech-focused direction for McDonald's. Apprente's voice-based, conversational technology, "will allow for faster, simpler and more accurate ordering", McDonald's said on Tuesday. The Big Mac seller added that Apprente's technology could also be incorporated into mobile ordering and self-order kiosks. At the end of trading without disclosing the deal's financial terms, McDonald's shares were down 0.11% to $209.45.

McDonald's is exploring ways to automate its drive-thru service with the help of artificial intelligence. It means that you could soon be chatting with a robot rather than a human when you pull up to place your order. Helping the fast-food giant in its high-tech endeavor is Silicon Valley-based Apprente, which McDonald's revealed this week it has agreed to acquire. Apprente was founded in 2017 to create a voice-based, conversational platform for complex, multilingual, multi-accent, and multi-item conversational ordering. According to McDonald's, Apprente's technology, which is already being tested […] Source: McDonald's plans to serve up artificial intelligence at its drive thrus

Fast food chain McDonald's has made yet another push into the world of automation. The company on Tuesday revealed it is acquiring conversational technology startup Apprente with a plan to integrate its systems with services such as drive-thru menus, self-order kiosks, and the mobile app. It comes just months after the fast food giant began rolling out AI-powered menus at hundreds of its locations across the United States, using the technology to make more precise menu suggestions. McDonald's on Tuesday revealed it is acquiring conversational technology startup Apprente with a plan to integrate its systems with services such as drive-thru menus, self-order kiosks, and the mobile app McDonald's President and CEO Steve Easterbrook said the latest acquisition will make it'simpler and even more enjoyable for crew members to serve guests.' Back in March the company acquired Israeli digital startup Dynamic Yield with similar plans to improve the customer experience using AI. Its AI menus can suggest items based on the time of day, weather or recent trends, like showing a hashbrown alongside a cheeseburger - a combination that recently went viral on Reddit.

McDonald's is exploring ways to automate its drive-thru service with the help of artificial intelligence. It means that you could soon be chatting with a robot rather than a human when you pull up to place your order. Helping the fast-food giant in its high-tech endeavor is Silicon Valley-based Apprente, which McDonald's revealed this week it has agreed to acquire. Apprente was founded in 2017 to create a voice-based, conversational platform for complex, multilingual, multi-accent, and multi-item conversational ordering. According to McDonald's, Apprente's technology, which is already being tested at select restaurants, will pave the way for "faster, simpler, and more accurate order taking at the drive-thru."

Over 7,000 store closings have already been announced in 2019. On the same day Apple unveiled the launch date of its subscription service Arcade, brick-and-mortar video game hub GameStop announced store closures. During Tuesday's quarterly earnings call with analysts, GameStop chief financial officer Jim Bell said the company was "on track to close between 180 and 200 underperforming stores globally by the end of this fiscal year." Bell also said there have been 195 store closures since last year. How many stores could close in the U.S. was not disclosed.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The chain has been using technology to stay ahead of the competition. In March, McDonald's announced the acquisition of Dynamic Yield, which specializes in personalization and decision logic technology. People familiar with the matter said the deal was worth more than $300 million, making it McDonald's largest deal in two decades. After closing the Dynamic Yield acquisition, McDonald's quickly deployed its machine learning tech in more than 8,000 U.S. drive-thrus.

Newswire) Patriot One Technologies Inc., (TSX: PAT) (OTCQB: PTOTF) (FRANKFURT: 0PL) ("Patriot One" or the "Company"), developer of the PATSCAN Multi-Sensor Covert Weapon Detection Platform ("PATSCAN Platform"), is pleased to announce the acquisition of XTRACT Technologies Inc. ("XTRACT") and all its related interests, assets, and intellectual property for consideration of $6,000,000 and the issuance of 9,422,956 Patriot One common shares (the "Consideration Shares") to XTRACT's former shareholders (the "Transaction"). Subject to certain exceptions based on the business of the Company or the performance of the Company's common share price, the Consideration Shares will be subject to escrow restrictions and released on a quarterly basis over the next twelve consecutive fiscal quarters of Patriot One. The Transaction follows demonstrated success of an ongoing collaborative project between the two firms that was announced in late July 2019. The XTRACT acquisition is part of an ongoing strategic initiative by the Company to bring together leading-edge technologies and services that will enhance the power of its PATSCAN Platform, which offers a layered, multi-sensor approach to concealed threat and disturbance detection. "Just over a month ago, we announced a development project with XTRACT, and during this period we've already seen great progress in significant opportunities for enhanced detection accuracy" said Martin Cronin, Patriot One's CEO and President.