The Best of BoF 2023: The AI Revolution

The expertise that owned 2023 was undoubtedly AI. ChatGPT debuted simply earlier than the beginning of the 12 months, kicking off a race amongst tech giants to combine or match its capabilities. Quickly, manufacturers had began to make use of generative AI for design and marketing, retailers had been unveiling conversational chatbots and expertise suppliers launched instruments to hurry up duties like writing product descriptions.

However it wasn’t the one expertise to have an effect. NFT tasks may have dried up, however the blockchain expertise underlying them discovered new customers. Nike launched one of many trade’s biggest web3 projects to date, releasing the primary blockchain-based digital items below its title. It simply didn’t name them NFTs. Manufacturers additionally ramped up efforts to create digital product passports for his or her bodily items as coming EU rules take form.

Expertise performed a wide range of roles past these efforts. On the customer-facing entrance, manufacturers leaned into virtual spaces like Roblox, whereas they sought higher methods to trace and handle stock on the backend with RFID. Competitors in trend is as fierce as ever, and firms will maintain trying to expertise for any edge they’ll get.

Prime Tales

Case Study | The Complete Playbook for Generative AI in Fashion: From ChatGPT to Midjourney to Runway, the rising expertise is already exhibiting why it may very well be probably the most consequential in a long time for the style trade. Early adopters and consultants unpack the alternatives and challenges of placing gen AI to make use of to design merchandise, create campaigns and different content material, and higher join with clients.

AI Takes on the Fashion Industry’s Counterfeit Problem: LVMH’s Patou has begun rolling out a brand new AI-powered authentication system with its expertise companion Ordre, including a brand new dimension in trend’s effort to battle fakes utilizing AI’s skill to identify patterns indiscernible to people.

Millions of Luxury Products Now Come With Unique Digital Passports. Here’s What That Means.: Manufacturers are beginning to undertake the tags in massive numbers as they put together to fulfill main new EU rules coming down the pipeline. They’re utilizing the chance to construct in customer-facing options that may enchantment to customers, too.

RFID’s ‘Quiet Revolution’ in Retail: Zara, Uniqlo and American Eagle are amongst these leaning on the expertise for talents like self-checkout and higher stock monitoring, whereas extra corporations be part of the ‘cult of RFID’ annually.

Inside the Battle to Run Fashion’s E-Commerce: Shopify, Farfetch and different tech corporations are vying for the multi-billion-dollar alternative to deal with the backend of manufacturers’ on-line shops.

Do Brands Need Chief Digital Officers?: The position is altering as trend corporations break “digital” obligations out of their siloes, main some to rethink the place.

The BoF Podcast | How to Turn Our Fear of AI Into Optimism: Mo Gawdat, a man-made intelligence professional and former chief enterprise officer of Google X, explains how people have the ability to show AI right into a constructive drive that advantages society.