The Future of Contactless Commerce

Rise of Mobile Payments

The rise of mobile payments has been a game-changer for the way we conduct commerce. With the increasing adoption of contactless payment methods, consumers are no longer required to physically swipe their cards or enter their PINs to make a purchase. Instead, they can simply tap their devices to complete a transaction. This has led to a significant reduction in the time it takes to make a purchase, making it a more convenient and efficient option for consumers.

Biometric Authentication

Biometric authentication is another key aspect of contactless commerce. With the use of fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, and voice recognition, consumers can now authenticate their identities without the need for passwords or PINs. This technology has improved security and reduced the risk of fraud, making it a more attractive option for both consumers and merchants.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are also playing a significant role in the future of contactless commerce. AI-powered chatbots can assist customers with their purchases, while ML algorithms can analyze consumer behavior to provide personalized recommendations and offers. This has led to a more streamlined and personalized shopping experience, with consumers receiving targeted promotions and discounts based on their preferences.

Cloud-Based Infrastructure

A cloud-based infrastructure is essential for the future of contactless commerce. Cloud-based solutions provide scalability, flexibility, and security, making it easier for businesses to integrate new technologies and services. This has led to the development of cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) systems, which offer real-time inventory management, automated reporting, and seamless integration with other systems.

Conclusion

The future of contactless commerce is exciting and rapidly evolving. With the rise of mobile payments, biometric authentication, AI and ML, and cloud-based infrastructure, consumers are experiencing a more convenient, efficient, and personalized shopping experience. As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more innovative solutions to emerge, changing the way we shop and interact with businesses.

FAQs

What are the benefits of contactless commerce?

* Convenience: Contactless commerce allows consumers to make purchases quickly and easily, without the need to carry cash or cards.
* Increased security: Biometric authentication and encryption ensure that transactions are secure and fraud-resistant.
* Personalization: AI and ML enable businesses to provide targeted promotions and offers, making the shopping experience more personalized.

What are some examples of contactless payment methods?

* Apple Pay
* Google Pay
* Samsung Pay
* Fitbit Pay
* Contactless credit/debit cards

How do I use contactless payment methods?

* To use contactless payment methods, simply tap your device or card on the payment terminal, and follow the prompts to complete the transaction.

ChatGPT’s Groundbreaking New Scheduled Tasks Feature

ChatGPT just launched a new feature that, alongside OpenAI’s groundbreaking Operator agent, signals a future where AI is far more capable than today.

Tasks let users schedule actions to be carried out in the future or at regular intervals. While Operator can actively browse the web and complete complex tasks independently, Scheduled Tasks focuses on automated, time-based interactions.

What Are ChatGPT Scheduled Tasks?

The concept is pretty straightforward – Tasks lets us schedule prompts to be run in the future or at regular intervals, such as once a day, then wait for the results to be relayed back to us by notification or email.

What makes it exciting is that it’s part of OpenAI’s broader initiative to create truly autonomous AI assistants. While Operator handles real-time web interactions, Scheduled Tasks manages time-based automations – both representing different aspects of AI working independently on our behalf.

How To Use Scheduled Tasks

At the moment, Tasks are only available to users with a paid ChatGPT Plus, Pro or Teams subscription.

To get started, just click your profile picture and select Tasks, or select ChatGPT With Scheduled Tasks from the drop-down Model menu. OpenAI has created a page with more detailed instructions, including how to set up push notifications, on its website here.

Five Helpful Ways To Start Using Scheduled Tasks Today

Personalized Morning Weather And Travel Briefing

This prompt sends helpful daily updates before you leave the house:

Every morning at 7 am, provide me with a weather report for [my location] as well as a travel report covering disruption on any local roads or transport networks, for the current day only.

Create Topical Social Media Posts For A Business

Finding ideas for social media posts can eat into your valuable time, particularly if you’re running a business by yourself:

At 9 am every day, please generate the text for a social media post for my [insert type of business]. It should relate to something topical connected to my business and should either promote the importance of the products and services we supply or educate or inform the customer about something of interest to them.

Create A Personalized To-Do List, With Reminders

This will help you organize your day and keep track of jobs you need to get done:

Every day at 8 am, ask me what tasks I need to get done that aren’t already on my list. Generate a list of all my ongoing tasks along with tips to help me get them done. Remove tasks from my list as I tell you I’ve completed them.

Keep Up-To-Date On Topics That Matter To You

News briefings on any subject you want:

Every morning at 7 am, send me the latest news and content on the subject of [insert subject].

Meal Planning

Create a customized meal plan for the week:

Every Monday at 9 am, send me a weekly meal plan consisting of seven healthy dinners for a family of [insert family size] and provide a shopping list of all the ingredients I’ll need, broken down into categories.

Towards AI Agents?

We’re already seeing OpenAI’s vision of agentic AI taking shape. While Scheduled Tasks handles time-based automations, Operator demonstrates more advanced capabilities – actively browsing the web, making decisions, and completing complex tasks independently.

The Scheduled Tasks feature may be in beta, but combined with Operator, we can see OpenAI’s roadmap emerging. Future versions might integrate these capabilities – imagine scheduling an Operator task to automatically book your favorite restaurant every Friday or having it monitor prices and purchase items when they go on sale.

This integration would move OpenAI’s technology well beyond simply answering questions and giving advice. With Operator already handling web-based tasks and Scheduled Tasks managing time-based automations, we’re watching the evolution of AI into truly useful everyday assistants that can work independently on our behalf.

Conclusion

ChatGPT’s Scheduled Tasks feature is a significant step towards the creation of truly autonomous AI assistants. By scheduling actions to be carried out in the future or at regular intervals, users can automate AI interactions even while offline, marking a significant step toward agentic AI.

FAQs

Q: Who is eligible for the Scheduled Tasks feature?

A: The feature is currently only available to users with a paid ChatGPT Plus, Pro or Teams subscription.

Q: How do I get started with Scheduled Tasks?

A: To get started, click your profile picture and select Tasks, or select ChatGPT With Scheduled Tasks from the drop-down Model menu.

Q: Can I integrate Scheduled Tasks with other AI capabilities?

A: Yes, Scheduled Tasks can be integrated with Operator to create even more advanced AI capabilities.

Q: Is Scheduled Tasks in beta?

A: Yes, the feature is currently in beta and may have some limitations. OpenAI will continue to update and refine the feature as it moves forward.

Can Large Corporations Still Innovate?

Debunking the Myth of Displacement

Research and news headlines are replete with the idea that traditional large companies can’t innovate, and that smaller digital companies will render many larger ones extinct. While we’ve seen numerous startups of the last thirty years not only disrupt businesses but become the megacorporations of today, we wondered whether this disruption is accelerating with the momentum of digital revolution. In particular, we wanted to see whether large established corporations are being increasingly displaced by new technologies, or whether they’re actually leveraging digital and other new technologies to innovate and grow.

Corporate Innovation: Not a Lost Art

Many traditional large corporations have successfully adapted to the digital era, embracing innovation and technology to stay ahead of the competition. In fact, a significant number of these corporations have created entirely new businesses or acquired innovative startups to fuel growth. This demonstrates that size alone is no barrier to innovation and that even large corporations can transform themselves to meet the changing market landscape.

Leveraging Technology

Large corporations are leveraging various digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT), to drive innovation. They are using these technologies to create new products, services, and business models that meet the evolving needs of customers. Moreover, they are applying these technologies to streamline processes, improve operational efficiency, and enhance customer experience.

A Case in Point: Traditional Banking

The banking industry is an excellent example of a traditional large corporation adapting to the digital age. Many established banks have transformed themselves to remain competitive, acquiring fintech companies and investing heavily in digital technology. Today, digital banking services are an essential part of their offerings, with mobile banking apps, online trading platforms, and contactless payments becoming the norm.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our research has shown that traditional large corporations can indeed innovate, leveraging digital and other new technologies to stay ahead of the curve. Rather than being displaced, these corporations have adapted to the changing landscape, embracing innovation to drive growth and stay competitive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are traditional large corporations really becoming extinct?

A: No, our research indicates that traditional large corporations are adapting to the digital era and continuing to innovate and grow.

Q: What is driving this change?

A: The widespread adoption of digital technologies, such as AI, cloud computing, and IoT, is driving innovation across all industries.

Q: What role do digital technologies play in corporate innovation?

A: Digital technologies are being used by corporations to create new products, services, and business models, streamline processes, improve operational efficiency, and enhance customer experience.

Q: What can we expect to see in the future?

A: We expect to see more traditional large corporations continuing to innovate and adapt to the changing landscape, leveraging digital and other new technologies to stay competitive and drive growth.