Innovation

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🍎 ASEPOP Velventos, Greek agricultural cooperative, announced a €30 million investment plan on October 19th in Paris to double its turnover by 2030. Since 2011, €15.9 million invested in modernization and promotion. The plan includes a new kiwi conditioning station, improved agricultural practices, and a transformation unit. Founded in 1917, ASEPOP manages 650 hectares, with nearly 400 members, exporting to over 15 countries.

📱 By 2030, AI generative technology could pollute as much as 20 billion smartphones, according to Nature Computational Science. Research showed e-waste might increase to 1.2-5 million tonnes from 2020-2030. In 2023, AI produced 2,600 tonnes of e-waste, a figure 1,000 times less than projected for 2030. Implementing a circular economy strategy could cut electronic waste by 16-86%, highlighting the need for proactive e-waste management as AI technologies advance.

✈ Lufthansa's mobile app won "Best Airline App Worldwide 2024" at the World Aviation Festival. The app faced competition from Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Air India, having been previously evaluated by customers and nominated for the final by an expert jury. Sebastian Riedle, VP Digital Product Lufthansa Group, highlighted the app's user-friendly experience and seamless reservation management. Lufthansa's app, dubbed the 'travel companion,' is used by one in two passengers, with a daily user count of 800,000.

🛡 Advanced phishing, utilizing artificial intelligence to personalize scams, is the second most common reason for assistance requested by enterprises and associations in 2023, as per Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr. AI also powers the creation of 'deepfakes' for non-consensual pornography and political misinformation, with celebrities like Taylor Swift being targeted. Additionally, AI-generated malicious code is a growing cybersecurity concern. Precautionary measures include careful examination of emails, staying informed, considering cyber risk insurance, and attending cybersafety conferences like the one hosted by GHR and Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr on November 6, from 11:15 to 12:00 at EquipHotel.

🛤 Starting November 10, cruise ships will return to Nouméa and Lifou in New Caledonia, with Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line resuming their schedules. This marks a recovery for the local tourism and economy, previously halted for nearly 6 months after incidents on May 13. In 2023, the region welcomed 343,703 passengers across 118 ships, ranking in the top 5 cruise ports in France and generating over €25 million in revenue. The first quarter of 2024 saw a 13% increase in passengers to 120,564.

🏠 Trip.com's "Trip Genie" AI travel planner, launched 1.5 years ago, doubled conversion rates, handled over 1 million queries, and increased app usage by 20 minutes on average. The platform analyzes over 100 million customer reviews for personalized recommendations. Self-help tools enable 70-80% of users to manage bookings without customer service, which responds within 30 seconds. Content generated by users now constitutes 80% of the app, with live streams and 7-second hotel videos enhancing traveler engagement.

💾 Google, once a search engine reference for over a decade, now faces competition as the search engine market evolves. OpenAI and Meta (Facebook's parent company) are developing AI-powered search engines to reduce reliance on Google and Bing. Google's project Jarvis, exclusive to Chrome, intends to create an AI that autonomously uses a computer to perform tasks. Traditional search engine usage is expected to decline as generative AI becomes more prevalent.

🏨 Zenitude Hôtel-Résidences, a growing French hotel group, has selected Mews, a cloud-based hotel industry leader, to manage its portfolio of over 40 properties across France. The collaboration aims to enhance operational efficiency and improve the customer experience for travelers staying at their fully-equipped residences, studios, and apartments. Zenitude's locations are strategically situated near business centers, transport hubs, and tourist sites, catering to a diverse clientele including professionals, tourists, families, and students. Mews's flexible 100% cloud-based management system, Mews Spaces, provides tailored solutions for both short and long-term stays, featuring various types of spaces, time periods, and pro-rata functionality.

🐊 The Réserve Tropicale welcomed nearly 283,000 visitors in 2024 as it celebrated its 30th anniversary. La Ferme aux Crocodiles, a leading tourist site in Drôme, France, enhanced visitor experience with a new aerial course for children, an overlook bridge, a photo spot at the waterfall, and regular introduction of new activities and social media filters for teens. The team continues to work towards a more immersive visit among Nile crocodiles and giant turtles.