Breaking News
Amazon plans major investment in OpenAI
Amazon is reportedly in talks with OpenAI about an investment of up to $50 billion. OpenAI is seeking a total of around $100 billion in fresh capital. SoftBank also said to be among the potential investors. OpenAI has also set the price for its new ads on ChatGPT at $60 per 1,000 impressions. That’s about three times as much as Meta. More details via Reuters (AI investment) and Techbuzz (price)
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eBay also blocks AI agents
eBay is following Amazon’s lead and will ban unauthorized AI shopping agents such as “buy-for-me” agents and large language model bots from other providers like Perplexity as of February 20th. Only the partnership with ChatGPT remains unaffected. More on eMarketer
OTTO opens its marketplace to Europe
For years, the OTTO marketplace was effectively limited to German sellers, but now the platform is opening up to EU partners with a backend update. Cross-border payment processing, tax handling, and EU-based onboarding are now possible. More on LinkedIn
Vinted expands to the US
The Lithuanian recommerce platform Vinted is continuing its international expansion and is now officially launching in the US market. Investments in the millions are planned.
Find out more on LRT
IKEA expands its second-hand marketplaces
IKEA has expanded its second-hand marketplace to its home market, Sweden. The move follows pilot projects in Spain and Norway, as well as the launch of the second-hand platform in Portugal and Poland in 2025. Read more on Panelsfurnitureasia
TikTok Shop is the UK’s fourth-largest beauty retailer
TikTok Shop has cemented its position as the UK’s fourth-largest beauty retailer, driven by a 60% year-on-year increase in beauty sales. In 2024, the platform was the fastest-growing online retailer in the UK. More on ChannelX
Live Shopping News
Whatnot surpasses $8bn in live-shopping GMV
In 2025, the live-shopping platform Whatnot reached $8 billion in GMV, doubling year on year. According to the company, this gives Whatnot a 60% market share across Europe and the US. This puts the platform on track to overtake QVC this year and position itself as the most attractive alternative to TikTok Shop. Read more on Exciting Commerce (German)
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