The Broadmind Business & Innovation Tracker
How leading brands across industries—from Unilever and Yum! Brands to Snap and Tencent Music—are harnessing innovation, strategic partnerships, and the power of AI to gain competitive advantage.
Welcome back to your daily reading—a curated roundup highlighting the latest developments in technology, retail, entertainment, and innovation. This week, explore how Google Cloud is reinforcing cybersecurity through its bold acquisition of Wiz, NVIDIA is turning data centers into "AI factories," and Macy's is embracing storytelling to strengthen its brand heritage.
Unilever has dramatically reduced product imaging costs by implementing NVIDIA Omniverse to create digital twins of consumer goods like Dove and TRESemmé products. The digital replicas boosted consumer purchase intent while slashing production expenses by 87% in some markets. Incoming CEO Fernando Fernandez plans to build on this success by shifting media budgets toward social channels and advanced digital marketing.
Macy's is expanding its entertainment footprint by acquiring rights to develop a TV series based on the bestseller "When Women Ran Fifth Avenue," chronicling pioneering female retail executives. This content play complements Macy's existing media portfolio that includes the Thanksgiving Day Parade and Fourth of July Fireworks, strengthening the brand's cultural relevance beyond physical retail.
Twitch is building competitive advantage through superior content moderation and safety features. The platform reports 80% of creators now use its safety tools, up from just 20% in 2022. This security-first approach is attracting creators who prioritize controlled interactions, establishing Twitch as the preferred platform for communities seeking more protected live broadcasting environments.
As forecast in PSFK’s 100 Ideas in Consumer Electronics, Eric Migicovsky, who created Pebble, has launched Core Devices to offer simplified smartwatches for users tired of feature-heavy options. The company's hybrid timepieces focus on long battery life and essential health tracking, targeting an underserved segment seeking straightforward alternatives to complex devices from Apple and Google.
Snap is advancing its augmented reality capabilities by adding GPS integration and hand-tracking tools to Spectacles AR glasses. These enhancements enable location-aware experiences and more intuitive interactions. The company is also incentivizing developer participation through monthly prize competitions, further distinguishing its AR ecosystem from rivals Apple, Google, and Meta.
Tencent Music Entertainment posted strong quarterly results with a 16% increase in online music subscriptions. The company's effective subscriber acquisition strategy and cost management have created momentum for further expansion and AI-driven innovations in the competitive digital music market.
Stone Island partnered with New Balance on a limited-edition 998 sneaker manufactured in the United States using Stone Island's signature Raso Gommato fabric. The collaboration highlights New Balance's American manufacturing capabilities while showcasing Stone Island's materials innovation, connecting with consumers through authentic craftsmanship narratives.
Google Cloud is purchasing cloud security leader Wiz for $32 billion in cash—marking one of Alphabet's largest acquisitions ever. The deal equips Google with powerful capabilities to secure multi-cloud environments through Wiz's platform. By combining Google's AI technology with Wiz's security expertise, businesses gain more integrated protection across increasingly complex digital infrastructures.
At its GTC 2025 conference, NVIDIA unveiled its next-generation GeForce 5090 GPUs and new Dynamo operating system. CEO Jensen Huang introduced a strategic concept by rebranding data centers as "AI factories"—hubs for intelligent innovation across industries. The company also expanded its partnership with General Motors to accelerate development of autonomous vehicle platforms, signaling growth beyond traditional computing markets.
Restaurant giant Yum! Brands is also partnering with NVIDIA to bring AI capabilities to KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell locations. The technology will enhance order accuracy, streamline kitchen operations, and improve customer experiences across Yum!'s 55,000+ restaurants worldwide. This collaboration represents another market extension for NVIDIA's AI solutions beyond its traditional customer base.
Fragrance companies are discovering significant e-commerce opportunities on Amazon as digital marketing techniques improve and consumer purchasing behaviors shift. Beauty and luxury personal care brands are seeing online fragrance sales accelerate, creating openings for companies willing to adapt their marketing approaches to this evolving retail channel.