Wednesday, 15 July 2026

LVMH Funds IFM Research Chair on Creativity and AI

LVMH and the Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) are launching a research chair endowed at €150,000 per year, focused on the relationship between science, technology, and creative practice. The associated researcher is Tobias Rees, founder of philosophical R&D lab Limn, tasked with modeling how designers generate ideas in the age of generative tools. IFM president Sidney Toledano — former CEO of Christian Dior for over two decades — said approximately half of the school’s design students already use generative AI in their work, though usage remains optional as not all are favorable to it. The chair aims to understand what AI actually does to creative practice before LVMH deploys these tools across its houses. WWD

Puma Hires Nike Veteran to Lead Its Commercial Engine

Marcia Dos Santos joins Puma as vice president of the Core Business Unit, effective July 15, 2026, reporting directly to chief brand officer Maria Valdes. Dos Santos spent more than 20 years at Nike, most recently as VP of women’s merchandising for EMEA. The role is newly created: Puma this year established dedicated teams for its Sportstyle and Core divisions, with Core described as “Puma’s commercial engine.” The appointment is part of the German sportswear group’s ongoing turnaround strategy. Retail Gazette

Samsung Galaxy Glasses: London Unpacked July 22, Fall 2026 Launch

Samsung has invited press to a Galaxy Unpacked event in London on July 22, 2026, where Galaxy Glasses will be officially unveiled. Based on leaks and confirmed information, the glasses run Android XR (co-developed with Google), use a Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 processor, feature a 12MP camera (Sony IMX681 sensor), and weigh approximately 50 grams. The 155mAh battery means all processing is offloaded to a paired smartphone. Commercial launch is expected for Fall 2026, priced between $379 and $499, with frame collaborations from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. The glasses will be compatible with both Android and iOS. iDevice

Porsche Ranks #1 in JD Power 2026 U.S. Initial Quality Study

Porsche achieved the highest overall score in the 2026 J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study, posting 138 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) — the lower the score, the better. Genesis ranked second (151 PP100), followed by Ford as the top mass-market brand (152 PP100). The Porsche 911 was named the best vehicle in the industry at 110 PP100. The study is based on responses from more than 78,000 buyers and lessees of 2026 model-year vehicles, measuring reported problems during the first 90 days of ownership. It is the second consecutive year the 911 has taken the top model spot. Porsche Newsroom

Meta Raises Louisiana AI Campus Commitment to $50B and 5 Gigawatts

Meta announced on July 13 that it is expanding its Hyperion data center campus in Richland Parish, Louisiana, from 2 to 5 gigawatts of capacity, with investment rising above $50 billion. Bloomberg estimates that chips and equipment could eventually push the total cost past $250 billion, though Meta has not confirmed a figure above its stated commitment. The 2-gigawatt phase should be complete by 2030, with the full 5-gigawatt buildout targeted for around 2032. Since construction began in December 2024, more than $1.6 billion in contracts have gone to local Louisiana businesses, and the project includes over $1 billion in local infrastructure improvements covering roads, water, and wastewater. CNBC