Google brings Smart Reply to Hangouts Chat (Amazon cashierless Go stores near airport and Walmart buys Art.com)

• Google brings Smart Reply to Hangouts Chat, The feature uses machine learning to propose relevant responses.
• Walmart buys Art.com to take on Amazon in home decor. Art.com will continue to operate as a standalone online storefront.
• Amazon's cashierless Go stores may come to an airport near you. It has reportedly requested meetings from several US airport operators.

Google brings Smart Reply to Hangouts Chat (Amazon cashierless Go stores near airport and Walmart buys Art.com)

Google brings Smart Reply to Hangouts Chat

Google is incorporating its Smart Reply feature into Hangouts Chat, giving users up to three reply options that they can quickly select, edit and send. The company said the feature is backed by machine learning similar to what's behind Gmail's Smart Reply, adding that the move is part of its larger effort to bring these sorts of tools to all of G Suite. Google announced earlier this year that it planned to bring the feature to more chat apps.

Today, we're bringing Smart Reply to Hangouts Chat. See how we're using #ML to help users reply to messages even quicker. https://t.co/FdOuFqsdga pic.twitter.com/6etx8l2Iw2

— G Suite (@gsuite) December 6, 2018

Smart Reply is rolling out to Hangouts Chat users over the next couple of days. It's currently only available in English.

Walmart buys Art.com to take on Amazon in home decor

Google brings Smart Reply to Hangouts Chat, Walmart buys Art.com to take on Amazon in home decor, Amazon's cashierless Go stores may come to an airport near you

Walmart announced that it is planning to acquire Art.com, a major online retailer of art and wall decor. The art seller will continue to operate as a standalone online storefront, but some of the platform's more than two million products will be available through Walmart.com, Jet and Hayneedle. Walmart hasn't said if it will carry Art.com products in its physical stores.

The purchase is expected to be completed in early 2019, though no price was given. In addition to the company's products, Walmart is also getting its hands on Art.com's ArtView platform that allows shoppers to see what a product will look like in their home. The technology may be used so shoppers can preview other Walmart products as well. Walmart currently offers virtual looks at curated apartments, while retailers like Target and Ikea have full augmented reality offerings.

The purchase of Art.com marks a continuation of Walmart's online retailer spending spree. Since spending $3 billion to acquire Jet.com in 2016, Walmart has scooped up a number of smaller e-commerce companies including women's clothing shop ModCloth, men's clothing outlet Bonobos, outdoor gear seller Moosejaw, footwear retailer ShoeBuy and home furnishing company Hayneedle.

Amazon's cashierless Go stores may come to an airport near you

Google brings Smart Reply to Hangouts Chat, Walmart buys Art.com to take on Amazon in home decor, Amazon's cashierless Go stores may come to an airport near you

Airport shopping is mostly about perfumes, booze and overpriced electronics, but that could soon change. Amazon has reportedly inquired about installing its cashierless Go stores at several US airports, according to Reuters. Emails from a public records request revealed that Amazon asked for meetings with managers at San Jose and Los Angeles international airports and received a positive response. "I am looking forward to moving forward with the Amazon Go technology at the airport," wrote one airport IT manager.

An unnamed source said that Amazon was trying to figure out how to get into airports and assigned a business development employee to the task. Officials said that Amazon would have to go through the same competitive bid process as any company to become a concessionaire, however.

It's not clear how profitable Amazon Go could be at airports. Employees would need security clearances, and retail space tends to be at a premium. What's more, airports are often publicly run, so all of the terms and conditions would be publicly available -- something that Amazon may not be crazy about.

Even if Go stores ran at a loss, however, it could be well worth it for Amazon. "It would gain an opportunity to expose Go to travelers that might otherwise never experience it," one anonymous individual told Reuters. "You'll be able to build broad awareness just being in a dozen of the best airports."

It could also be a boon for travelers: No matter how you might feel about Jeff Bezos' company, it does tend to have a broader selection and better prices than most stores. You'd probably be looking at food and electronics rather than Hermes cologne or Crozes Hermitage wine, however.