Microchip Technology Boosts Q3 Outlook on Strong Bookings Momentum 
IBM Nears $11 Billion Deal to Acquire Confluent in Major AI and Data Push 
OpenAI Moves to Acquire Neptune as It Expands AI Training Capabilities 
Sam Altman Reportedly Explored Funding for Rocket Venture in Potential Challenge to SpaceX 
Firelight Launches as First XRP Staking Platform on Flare, Introduces DeFi Cover Feature 
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Denies Reports of $800 Billion Valuation Fundraise 
China Adds Domestic AI Chips to Government Procurement List as U.S. Considers Easing Nvidia Export Curbs 
Hikvision Challenges FCC Rule Tightening Restrictions on Chinese Telecom Equipment 
U.S.-EU Tensions Rise After $140 Million Fine on Elon Musk’s X Platform 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Australia Moves Forward With Teen Social Media Ban as Platforms Begin Lockouts 
Apple Appoints Amar Subramanya as New Vice President of AI Amid Push to Accelerate Innovation 
US Charges Two Men in Alleged Nvidia Chip Smuggling Scheme to China 
EU Prepares Antitrust Probe Into Meta’s AI Integration on WhatsApp 
Australia Enforces World-First Social Media Age Limit as Global Regulation Looms 
Microsoft Unveils Massive Global AI Investments, Prioritizing India’s Rapidly Growing Digital Market 
Trump Administration to Secure Equity Stake in Pat Gelsinger’s XLight Startup 
Retail giant Walmart has made several maneuvers to get itself establish within the blockchain market. It’s most recent one is the filing for a blockchain-centered marketplace patent geared towards the reselling of purchased goods. The filing was made on May 17 and was confirmed by the US Patent and Trademark Office.
The idea behind the patent is that customers will be able to resell a particular product given that most items aren't used to its full lifespan. When the customer initially buys the product, the purchase is recorded in the blockchain ledger. Users are then able to put a price on the resell value of the item.
The application aims to help ease the transaction between buyers and sellers when the primary owner of an item decides to resell a certain product. It’s a great way for buyers to know the lifespan of an item to know exactly how long it was in the hands of the owner. The app’s interface could be point-of-purchase, mobile, or browser.
This is all just the company continuing to improve their user experience, which is expected for a retail juggernaut like Walmart. It can be remembered that the company has also filed for another patent on March 1 that outlines a blockchain-based delivery system. It’s clear that both patents are intended to be used to augment each other. When an item is delivered to a buyer, the blockchain-based market can automatically record the product as soon as the transfer from the courier to the buyer is verified.
The delivery system, or “Smart Package,” use blockchain to track package contents, monitor environmental conditions, and pinpoint the precise location as the product travel from retailer to courier to the delivery location. Moreover, the application is designed to be used by autonomous drones and vehicles, making human intervention less and less.
The popularity of blockchain tech is continuing to expand within the shipping industry. FedEx is currently working on logistic applications of the blockchain. UPS has shaken hands with Blockchain in Trucking Alliance (BiTA) in November 2017. And even SMEs are on their drawing board trying to leverage blockchain technology and how it can improve their shipping operations.
