The $1 Trillion Secret in Your Shopping Cart That AI Can Solve | Anthony Martore | TEDxBoston
"Every 7 seconds, a truckload of perfectly usable returned goods is buried in a landfill. In this eye-opening talk, former Nike strategist Anthony Martore unveils the hidden environmental disaster lurking behind your ""free returns"" button—a trillion-dollar crisis most consumers never see. Blending insider knowledge from the footwear industry with cutting-edge technology, he reveals how AI image recognition isn't just changing the game—it's rewriting the rules, transforming our throwaway returns culture into a circular economy where sustainability isn't just possible, it's inevitable.AI, Behavioral Economics, Climate Change, Shopping, Sustainability, E-commerce
" Anthony Martore, a former UCLA track athlete, brings his competitive spirit to solving one of retail's biggest challenges—returned goods. His journey through the retail world began at Nike, where he honed his talent for seeing efficiency where others saw complexity. The COVID-19 surge in e-commerce returns opened his eyes to a broken system—one where perfectly good products were being destroyed rather than finding new homes. This realization sparked a passion that led him to Harvard Business School and ultimately to founding Skiply. Today, Anthony is transforming how retailers handle returns, using AI to create smarter pathways for products and building a more circular economy. His unique perspective at the intersection of athletics, retail operations, and sustainability makes him a compelling voice on how we can reimagine the future of online shopping. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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