Topic 1: Record store closings in 2019 - and Amazon is buying up old malls.

Both of these trends have been going on for a couple of years. Malls are consolidating, so there are fewer of them, but the ones that survive appear to be doing well. So maybe the nature of retail is changing.

At the same time, Amazon is climbing off the screen and back into the real world.

Related Links:
https://www.golocalprov.com/business/record-retail-store-closings-in-2019-could-exceed-12000-mall-armageddon-cou

https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2019/05/25/amazon-turns-shopping-malls-into-warehouses-changing-americas-community-landscape/#16e7dafb65f4

Topic 2: Amazon proposes hand scan payment.

Karl thinks that this will work for a short period of time. So it's a temporary solution, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't endorse it. Dave is not so sure it's worth embracing. Ryan sees both sides.

What do you think? And how might you integrate something like this into your clients' systems?

https://www.wsj.com/articles/cash-plastic-or-hand-amazon-envisions-paying-with-a-wave-11579352401

Topic 3: Two “good” stories about Artificial Intelligence

First, A group of Canadian scientists used AI to identify the spreading Corona Virus before anyone else, and they reported it to other scientists to verify that they were seeing what they think they were seeings.

Second, You can now design your own cars (like Hot Wheels) and actually have them built. This is the democratization of some very high-end engineering.

https://www.wired.com/story/ai-epidemiologist-wuhan-public-health-warnings/

https://www.digitalengineering247.com/article/build-a-car-from-the-bedroom/design

Or course we're very hopeful about the future!

:-)