Merchandising & Store OpsWednesday, September 9, 2026
Microsoft announced a suite of agentic AI solutions on January 8, 2026, including a Store Operations Agent template that autonomously orchestrates workflows and recommends next-best actions for staffing and inventory.
Appetronix has raised over $10 million in total seed funding to expand its intelligent automated kitchen systems for venues like airports, hospitals, and universities.
Microsoft has launched a public preview of a Store Operations Agent in Copilot Studio that provides associates with a natural-language interface to inventory and policy while autonomously orchestrating workflows, staffing recommendations, and KPI prioritization based on sales, foot traffic, weather, and local events.
Fresco closed a €15 million Series C round in late 2025 to scale its AI Cooking Companion and KitchenOS platform across global appliance brands.
Oura is raising an approximately $875 million Series E at a $10.9 billion valuation to expand the production and international distribution of its wearable ring.
The FDA cleared 295 AI/ML-enabled medical devices from 221 manufacturers in 2025, with 62% classified as Software as a Medical Device and a median review time of 142 days.
