> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nearmedia.co/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Jeeves, Gist & Phind, Amazon Stores Going Away, Don't Call It 'Phygital' - URL: https://www.nearmedia.co/jeeves-is-the-future-amazon-stores-going-away-dont-call-it-phygital/ - Published: 2023-03-06T20:00:06.000Z - Updated: 2023-03-06T21:33:14.000Z - Author: Greg Sterling - Tags: News ### Ask Jeeves, Gist & Phind The "conversational search" model [embodied by Ask Jeeves](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/03/ask-jeeves-chatgpt-bing-ai-chatbot-google-search/673275/?ref=nearmedia.co) in its early days may represent the future of search/discovery. Rather than indexing documents, Ask Jeeves saw itself "answering questions." Indeed, that is the direction search has been going, since the advent of the Google onebox ("answers not links"). AI-enhanced search seems to be the culmination of that trajectory. BingGPT, Neeva, Perplexity.ai, Quora's Poe and now [Phind](https://www.phind.com/?ref=nearmedia.co) are focused on delivering cleaner, simpler and (hopefully/eventually) reliable answers. Accuracy is a major issue, but the UI/UX innovations are fascinating. Phind, which says it's for developers, puts links on the right rail and the AI content in the center. Neeva is doing something similar but less aggressively. Neeva has also just released a new mobile search app ([gist](https://neeva.com/gist?ref=nearmedia.co)), which offers a very different UI/UX. If presents visual cards that generate an AI "search" result. It's set up like a news feed but users can also do their own independent searches as well. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/80/0380d96d-ef7e-450e-96b3-2963e18aaab5/content/images/2023/03/Screen-Shot-2023-03-06-at-11.23.20-AM.png) Source: Phind **Our take:** - We argued last week that BingGPT [wasn't a Google killer](https://www.nearmedia.co/gpt-wont-kill-g-assistants-2-0-national-data-privacy/). But there's more going on than just the Bing integration. - Vertical search, like Phind, may be where the biggest impact is felt near term. And soon ChatGPT will be in most apps via the [OpenAI API](https://openai.com/blog/introducing-chatgpt-and-whisper-apis??ref=nearmedia.co). - Google is arguably the dominant AI company, but it's ambivalence about disrupting itself with AI [may result](https://www.theinformation.com/articles/alphabet-needs-to-replace-sundar-pichai?ref=nearmedia.co) in a major shake up at the company. [Link to this item](#ask-jeeves-gist-phind) ### Amazon Stores Going Away Amazon is retreating – big time – from its previously ambitious brick and mortar strategy. Since taking over from Jeff Bezos, CEO Andy Jassy (the [Bob Chapek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob%5FChapek?ref=nearmedia.co) of commerce) has [shuttered](https://www.nearmedia.co/amazon-ends-bookstores-review-trust-down-cx-a-google-ranking-factor/) numerous Amazon stores: Amazon Books, Amazon 4-Star and various pop-up stores. Amazon [Style's](https://www.nearmedia.co/amazons-new-style-facebook/) days are probably also numbered. The company has chosen to focus on its grocery business, which has a tiny market share (\~2.5%). Despite this, Amazon recently said it [would close](https://www.geekwire.com/2023/amazon-closing-eight-amazon-go-convenience-stores-in-latest-tightening-of-its-physical-retail/??ref=nearmedia.co) eight Amazon Go convenience stores in NYC, Seattle and San Francisco. The company says it remains committed to Go stores overall and will continue to open new locations. But that remains to be seen. At one time, Amazon Go's [Just Walk Out technology](https://justwalkout.com/?ref=nearmedia.co) was heralded as the future of retail checkout and a major competitive threat to other retailers' legacy systems. That no longer seems true, although retailers will incrementally deploy these cashier-less systems in specific contexts. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/80/0380d96d-ef7e-450e-96b3-2963e18aaab5/content/images/2023/03/Screen-Shot-2023-03-06-at-9.19.29-AM.png) Source: Amazon-Wikipedia **Our take:** - Long-term worker shortages will drive automation and prompt adoption of technology to fill gaps. Cashier-less tech will see further adoption accordingly. - Amazon has benefitted from physical stores, especially as return centers. The Amazon brand is strong enough without them, but it could erode. - Amazon's new ambivalence about store expansion will probably translate into mixed results for its grocery business, blunting its potential. [Link to this item](#amazon-stores-going-away) ### Don't Call It 'Phygital' During the pandemic, stores were pronounced dead: online shopping would eventually replace traditional retail. Now the narrative has flipped as e-commerce [slowed dramatically](https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2023/03/03/macys-nordstrom-online-sales-decline/?ref=nearmedia.co). The [resurrection of Barnes & Noble](https://www.axios.com/2023/03/01/barnes-and-noble-james-duant-ceo?ref=nearmedia.co) is a metaphor for the resilience of stores, though [not all retailers](https://www.retaildive.com/news/best-buy-to-close-as-many-as-30-stores-this-year/643973/?ref=nearmedia.co) are doing well. And Warby Parker, an early DTC darling, is [reducing its focus on e-commerce](https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2023/03/01/warby-parker-stemmed-losses-by-focusing-away-from-ecommerce/?ref=nearmedia.co) and opening more stores. The real story, of course, is *much* more complex than the zero-sum debate about stores vs. e-commerce. A new [study](https://wearescs.com/insights/the-omnichannel-overdrive-study-from-amazon-acolytes-to-brick-mobile-shoppers/?ref=nearmedia.co) from agency SCS finds shoppers fall into two primary categories: the horrifically named "Phygital Phantoms" and "Amazon Acolytes." The latter is what it sounds like: people who prefer Amazon. The former encompasses a broad group that moves fluidly between online and offline and relies heavily on mobile devices while shopping. There are more nuances in the [study](https://wearescs.com/insights/the-omnichannel-overdrive-study-from-amazon-acolytes-to-brick-mobile-shoppers/?ref=nearmedia.co), including generational differences. (Note: We must stamp out the use of "phygital" before it can become established.) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/80/0380d96d-ef7e-450e-96b3-2963e18aaab5/content/images/2023/03/Screen-Shot-2023-03-06-at-11.03.19-AM.png) Source: SCS "Omnichannel Overdrive" study **Our take:** - Brands without stores are at a fundamental disadvantage vs. omnichannel competitors. Among other functions, stores help build trust. - Yet online discovery or research drives a majority of in-store purchases. And multiple media sources influence consumer buying (above). - Getting in-store inventory online is the next frontier. That will have a significant impact on online buyer behavior. [Link to this item](#dont-call-it-phygital) ## Recent Analysis - **Near Memo episode 103:** [Bing not a Google killer, Yelp research masks market-share decline, review attacks on Google Business Profiles](https://www.nearmedia.co/ep-103/). - ****Step-by-Step Guide to Fighting Fake Google Review Attacks**, [by Mike Blumenthal](https://www.nearmedia.co/how-to-fight-a-fake-google-review-attack/). ## Short Takes - **Google** execs [at company all-hands](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/03/google-execs-say-in-all-hands-meeting-bard-ai-isnt-all-for-search-.html??ref=nearmedia.co): "Bard is not search." - The [value](https://searchengineland.com/create-content-strategy-framework-393819?ref=nearmedia.co) of a "**content strategy framework**." - **LinkedIn** "[Collaborative Articles](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unlocking-nearly-10-billion-years-worth-knowledge-help-daniel-roth/?ref=nearmedia.co)" use AI to entice engagement. - **Uber Eats** [takes on Instacart](https://chainstoreage.com/uber-provides-shopping-option-delivery-drivers?ref=nearmedia.co) with new "Shop and Pay" grocery option. - **Ad-supported streaming** is up, but "[ad tolerance" is down](https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/383104/ad-supported-streaming-adoption-up-to-64-ad-tole.html?ref=nearmedia.co). - Lawsuit: recording **chats** without consent is "[illegal wiretapping](https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/privacy/foot-locker-class-action-alleges-retailer-eavesdrops-on-website-communications/?ref=nearmedia.co)." - **Yahoo and Toyota** [team up for AR experience](https://www.adtech.yahooinc.com/post/yahoo-brings-ar-to-the-all-new-toyota-crown?ref=nearmedia.co) to promote new "Crown." - **Meta** [cutting prices of VR hardware](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/03/meta-quest-pro-vr-headset-gets-price-cut.html??ref=nearmedia.co) to boost demand. - **AI-generated voice scams** on the rise ([WaPo](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/03/05/ai-voice-scam/?ref=nearmedia.co)). - The **inside story of ChatGPT** [from the mouths of its creators](https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/03/03/1069311/inside-story-oral-history-how-chatgpt-built-openai/?ref=nearmedia.co). - **Walmart** [doesn't want](https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/tech/walmart-warning-employees-against-chatgpt.html?ref=nearmedia.co) employees to use ChatGPT. - **Bare Minimum Mondays** [takes over](https://nypost.com/2023/03/02/i-created-bare-minimum-mondays-gen-zs-latest-low-effort-work-trend/?ref=nearmedia.co) from quiet quitting. Listen to our [latest podcast](https://www.nearmedia.co/memo/). [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/80/0380d96d-ef7e-450e-96b3-2963e18aaab5/content/images/2021/02/near_memo_banner.png)](https://nearmedia.co/memo?ref=nearmedia.co) How can we make this better? Email [us](mailto:gsterling@nearmedia.co) with suggestions and recommendations.