Byte-Sized AI is a bi-weekly column that covers all things artificial intelligence—from startup funding, to newly inked partnerships, to just-launched, AI-powered capabilities from major retailers, software providers and supply chain players.
Quid and Vantage Discovery link for AI-powered retail intel
Vantage Discovery, an AI-powered search and recommendation SaaS company, announced earlier this month it had partnered with Quid, which leverages AI for market insights.
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Quid uses data to procure insights about trends early in the game, in turn allowing its customers to identify how those trends—whether a microtrend or a longer-lasting cultural shift—might impact their own businesses. From there, clients can more easily make decisions around their inventory and merchandising in ways that allow them to keep up with market demands and expectations.
Vantage, meanwhile, helps deliver on stronger search and discovery experiences by using language consumers are more likely to search. For instance, rather than searching, “pink lacy shirt with micro bows,” a consumer might search “coquette.” Vantage enables retailers to show products that match consumers’ more abstract search.
Combining the companies’ capabilities will enable clients to bolster their search results, categorize existing items that now fit into a trending style category and tailoring recommendations to match consumers’ own search and purchase history while also incorporating what’s trending. Quid and Vantage expect the fusion to more easily handle their inventory, boost conversions and encourage repeat purchase behavior.
Nigel Daly, chief operating officer of Vantage, said he believes the partnership could change the future of e-commerce, by simulating an experience closer to what consumers expect in stores.
“By combining Quid’s predictive insights with Vantage’s AI-powered semantic search, we’re enabling retailers to respond to trends instantly, offering products that resonate deeply with customers while driving full-price sales and optimizing inventory,” Daly told Sourcing Journal. “This partnership isn’t just about staying relevant—it’s about helping retailers lead the market with actionable intelligence and personalized experiences that set them apart and giving shoppers the in-person experience they know and love.”
Vantage scored a $16 million Series A round earlier this year. Quid boasts clients like Walmart, L’Oréal and Louis Vuitton.
Department of Homeland Security activates internal chatbot
On Dec. 17, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that the DHS AI Corps had made a generative AI-powered chatbot, which it calls DHSChat, available to 19,000 employees inside the agency. DHS joins several other agencies in using AI to its advantage internally.
The internal chatbot comes after some time spent understanding how the agency’s employees could find viable use cases with public AI systems, said Michael Boyce, director of the DHS AI Corps.
“Last year, we began allowing employees to use commercial generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude on publicly available information only; thousands of employees have now received training and use these tools to support their work,” Boyce said in a blog post. “DHSChat uses the same AI technology but was built internally and operates within a secure environment. By using DHSChat, employees are able to perform routine work more efficiently. This includes summarizing complex documents and reports, generating computer code and streamlining repetitive tasks like data entry.”
Other DHSChat functions include building out internal training programs and simplifying difficult-to-understand technology for members of the agency’s staff that are not employed as technologists or AI experts.
Some of its operating agencies are still piloting the technology so the AI Corps can better understand its capabilities in the field. In the release, DHS did not note whether Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has yet begun piloting the chatbot.
Boyce did note that, in the future, the agency will look to create what he called an “internal knowledge hub,” which would allow employees to ask DHSChat about DHS policies, rules and data. DHSChat is far from the only tool the DHS AI Corps has started work on; it has about 20 other projects in the mix, as well.
Starboard scores seed round for logistics AI
Early-stage logistics startup Starboard announced earlier this month it had secured a $5.5 million seed round, led by Eclipse. Garuda Ventures and Everywhere Ventures, two of Starboard’s existing investors, also participated in the round.
Starboard leverages AI and machine learning (ML) to help optimize the supply chains behind global trade for freight carriers and forwarders. The technology’s capabilities include real-time shipping processing, automatic invoice completion, payment follow-ups and more. Its current clients include UWL Logistics, trucking company Core Freight Group and Panda Logistics.
According to the company, its systems have helped clients reduce expenses associated with operations by up to half and doubled team productivity.
The company plans to use the funds to expand its Toronto-based engineering team and make technical upgrades to its AI-powered product in 2025. In doing so, it plans to target $2 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in 2025.
Kaitlyn Glancy, partner at Eclipse, said investing in Starboard is a vote of confidence in what the company can do to change the logistics industry as supply chains become more convoluted.
“As global trade becomes increasingly complex, there is a growing need for AI-driven transformation in logistics,” Glancy said in a statement. “By addressing these complexities, the Starboard team is delivering solutions that make logistics more efficient and accessible, empowering companies of all sizes—and economies—to thrive.”
