Need to Know News - September 11th, 2024
In this week's Need to Know News edition...Prime Video debuts new AI-powered features for ‘Thursday Night Football’...an AI white paper that busts the myth of mass job losses...how AI is helping ad agencies uncover hidden emotional connections...plus, a whole lot more!
AI In Action
Apple Embraces the AI Craze with its Newly Unleashed iPhone 16 Lineup
The new iPhones come equipped with special chips to power a suite of AI tools dubbed "Apple Intelligence." CEO Tim Cook promises these AI-driven features will "make a true difference in people's lives."
Apple Intelligence aims to transform the often-blundering Siri into a smarter, more versatile sidekick. It will automate tedious tasks, create customized emojis within seconds, and pull off other crowd-pleasing tricks. While competitors like Samsung and Google have made strides in AI, Apple's approach prioritizes privacy by processing most tasks on-device. The company is also partnering with OpenAI to give users access to the popular ChatGPT chatbot.
Perplexity AI Releases New Ad Featuring Chargers Coach Jim Harbaugh
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How AI Paves the Way for More Contextualized and Personalized DOOH Campaigns
Digital out of home advertising (DOOH) is now the fastest-growing ad channel, even surpassing other media in spending. A whopping 89% of marketers say GenAI boosts productivity and efficiency.
GenAI goes beyond traditional AI by creating new content and generating insights in real-time. It predicts trends, automates tasks, and suggests creative strategies to optimize campaign impact. Displayce's CampaignAI is a prime example, using GenAI to craft personalized DOOH plans based on audience behavior and location data.
Macy's Media Network Adds Expanded AI Capabilities through Rokt Technology
This move aims to create a more personalized shopping experience for Macy's customers while supporting initiatives like credit card enrollment and the Star Rewards loyalty program.
Rokt's AI technology, powered by over 4 billion annual transactions, helps Macy's deliver targeted ads and offers based on first-party data. Macy's Media Network VP Michael Krans emphasizes the strength of this data, enabling closed-loop attribution and measurement.With projected web sales of $7.30 billion in 2024, Macy's is embracing AI to stay competitive.
Prime Video Debuts New AI-Powered Features for ‘Thursday Night Football’
Amazon is rolling out a suite of AI-powered features called Prime Insights to enhance the 'Thursday Night Football' viewing experience on Prime Video this season. Leveraging AWS and in-house expertise, these cutting-edge innovations will highlight key players, reveal hidden game aspects, and even predict pivotal moments before they happen.
Among the new features are Defensive Vulnerability, which identifies where the offense should attack; Coverage Identification, pinpointing defensive schemes; and the return of Defensive Alerts, the first predictive AI model used in an NFL broadcast. With nine AI-driven features in total, TNF on Prime Video is elevating the fan experience like never before.
With AI, Agencies Advance CTV Contextual Targeting by Seeking Emotional Connections
Companies like Wurl are developing AI tools that analyze the emotions and context of TV content on a scene-by-scene basis, enabling ads to seamlessly match the tone and message of the programming.
Monks, one of the first to test Wurl's BrandDiscovery product, saw impressive results for a financial services client, with emotion-based targeting boosting brand awareness by 33%, favorability by 28%, and purchase intent by 15%. As agencies like PMG and Mediassociates also explore AI for CTV measurement and optimization, this technology promises to transform how ads resonate with audiences on a deeper level.
At the Frontier of AI
AI's Solution to the 'Cocktail Party Problem' Used in Court
A company called Wave Sciences has developed an AI solution to the age-old "cocktail party problem" of isolating individual voices in noisy environments. After a decade of research, founder Keith McElveen and his team created an algorithm that can analyze sound reflections and pinpoint the location of speakers, effectively screening out background noise.
This innovative technology has already proven pivotal in a US murder case, turning previously inadmissible audio into key evidence. With potential applications ranging from hostage negotiations to smart speakers and hearing aids, Wave Sciences is now marketing its product to government labs and the military. Remarkably, the AI's performance mirrors the complexities of human hearing, possibly shedding light on how our own brains solve the "cocktail party problem."
China’s AI Models Lag Their U.S. Counterparts by 6 to 9 months
In a fascinating development, Kai-Fu Lee, former head of Google China and AI expert, revealed that while Chinese AI models may lag behind their U.S. counterparts by 6 to 9 months, China is poised to dominate the world of AI applications. Speaking at the AVCJ Private Equity Forum, Lee predicted that Chinese AI apps will "proliferate much faster than in the U.S." by early next year.
AI White Paper Busts Myth of Mass Job Losses
A white Paper from Automated Analytics challenges the widespread fear that AI will lead to mass job losses. The study, which surveyed 5,000 UK and US decision-makers, found zero layoffs due to AI implementation. Instead, AI is positioned as a powerful catalyst for business growth and enhanced productivity.
Despite these findings, over half of UK business leaders still believe AI could eliminate more jobs than it creates. Mark Taylor, CEO of Automated Analytics, urges the UK to shift focus from regulation to innovation to remain globally competitive. The whitepaper includes real-world case studies demonstrating AI's positive impact on businesses and calls for UK firms to responsibly embrace AI technologies
Amazon Is Quietly Bringing Ads to Rufus, Its Gen AI Search Engine
In a quiet but significant move, Amazon is starting to integrate sponsored ads into Rufus, its 7-month-old generative AI shopping assistant. According to Amazon's latest product release, these contextual ads aim to enhance product discovery and will be tailored to users' conversations with Rufus.
However, advertisers are divided on the potential of this new ad placement. While some see it as a natural extension of Amazon's existing search ads, others worry about targeting accuracy and the lack of performance metrics. Experts advise brands to monitor customer feedback closely to ensure the ads enhance rather than disrupt the user experience.
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The AI Marketers
