Retail News CRM

Tag: will

  • Mondelez Harnesses Ai To Cut Marketing Costs And Revolutionize Tv Advertising

    Mondelez Harnesses Ai To Cut Marketing Costs And Revolutionize Tv Advertising

    Mondelez, the renowned snack producer, has taken a step forward in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce the expenses involved in creating marketing content by 30% to 50%. They have collaborated with advertising firm, Publicis Groupe, and IT company, Accenture, to develop an innovative AI tool.

    Revolutionizing TV Ads with AI

    Jon Halvorson, Mondelez’s global senior vice president of consumer experience, revealed the company’s ambitious plan to use this tool for generating short TV commercials which can be broadcasted as early as the upcoming holiday season. Notably, the company also has its sights set on creating ads for the 2027 Super Bowl.

    The manufacturer of Cadbury chocolate has invested more than $40 million into this AI initiative. Halvorson predicts the tool’s ability to create more intricate videos would lead to an increase in cost savings.

    Adopting AI amid Economic Challenges

    Like many consumer goods companies dealing with tariffs and decreasing customer budgets, Mondelez is turning to AI as a solution to reduce the fees associated with advertising agencies and accelerate product development and sales cycles.

    Other industry players such as Kraft Heinz, the maker of macaroni and cheese, and beverage giant Coca-Cola have also been experimenting with AI for their advertising efforts.

    AI-Powered Social Media Content

    Mondelez has been using the AI-generated content on social media platforms for their Chips Ahoy cookies in the US and Milka chocolate in Germany. A short eight-second Milka video featuring waves of chocolate flowing over a wafer has been used, with varying backgrounds tailored to the specific consumer group being targeted.

    The costs for creating such animations usually run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. With the new AI tool, however, Halvorson suggests the expenses are significantly lower.

    Upcoming AI Initiatives

    In November, Mondelez’s Oreo will utilize the tool for product pages on Amazon and Walmart in the US. The company also plans to use the tool in the near future for its Lacta chocolate and Oreo lines in Brazil, as well as Cadbury in the UK.

    Tina Vaswani, VP of digital enablement and data for the company, assures that the content created by the AI tool will be manually reviewed to prevent any potential issues. Mondelez follows strict rules against promoting unhealthy eating habits, vaping, overconsumption, emotionally manipulative language, and offensive stereotypes in their content.

    Questions & Answers

    How much has Mondelez invested in the AI tool?
    Mondelez has invested over $40 million in the development of the AI tool.

    How does Mondelez plan to use the AI-generated content?
    Mondelez has utilized AI-generated content for social media promotions and plans to use it for TV commercials, as well as product pages on Amazon and Walmart.

    What measures has Mondelez taken to ensure the quality of AI-generated content?
    Every piece of content generated by the AI tool is reviewed by humans to prevent any inappropriate or offensive content, adhering to company guidelines.

  • Apple And Microsoft Challenge Chrome’s Dominance: Unveiling The Privacy Controversy

    Apple And Microsoft Challenge Chrome’s Dominance: Unveiling The Privacy Controversy

    Apple has recently cautioned iPhone users against employing the Chrome browser, citing security risks. This situation may remind one of a previous advertising scenario in 2024 where the tech giant, through creative visuals, illustrated Android users exploring the Chrome Browser in public and being surveilled by transforming cameras. These cameras symbolized internet user trackers, which failed when attempting to spy on users of Apple’s own Safari browser. The underlying message being that Safari provides superior protection of users’ personal information than its counterparts, specifically pointing out the Chrome browser.

    Google’s Privacy Sandbox: A Failed Attempt at Privacy

    In a parallel move, Microsoft attempted to dissuade Windows users from using Chrome. They promoted their own browser, Microsoft Edge, as a trustworthy alternative that operates on the same technology as Chrome. Despite these concerted efforts by Microsoft and Apple to dethrone Chrome, the browser boasts a massive user base of over 3 billion worldwide. However, Google recently dropped a bombshell by announcing the end of its Privacy Sandbox project, its proposed alternative to third-party cookies for the web and Android applications.

    Back in January 2024, Google initiated the process of phasing out third-party cookies from Chrome. The agenda was to replace them with the Privacy Sandbox, aiming to gauge a consumer’s interests without resorting to widespread internet tracking to push personalized advertisements. Such targeted ads typically command higher prices from the advertisers due to their increased effectiveness, thereby contributing to Google’s revenue.

    The Privacy Sandbox was intended to shift ad selection and data processing tasks directly to the user’s browser and device, eliminating the need for third-party trackers to transmit individual user data across the web. Despite initial plans, Google resolved not to discontinue the use of third-party cookies last year, culminating in the current halt to the six-year-old Privacy Sandbox initiative.

    The Future of Chrome Amidst Privacy Concerns

    Although Chrome users may once again be subjected to tracking and personalized advertising, Chrome’s substantial market share is anticipated to remain unaffected. Currently, the browser dominates over 70% of the market, both in mobile and desktop segments. However, emerging competition from AI browsers like Perplexity’s Comet and an upcoming AI browser from Open AI’s parent ChatGPT could potentially pose a threat to Chrome.

    The Privacy Sandbox tools that Google has decided to withdraw include a host of features such as Attribution Reporting API for both Chrome and Android, IP Protection, On-Device Personalization, Private Aggregation, and more.

    An API, or Application Programming Interface, serves as an intermediary enabling two distinct software interfaces to communicate and exchange data. This process can be likened to the functioning of a restaurant, where an app seeking data is the customer, the API is the waiter relaying the order to the kitchen (the server), and then serving the prepared food (data) back to the customer.

    Google’s cancellation of the Privacy Sandbox was attributed to its “low levels of adoption”, indicating that it failed to provide sufficient value to its users.

    Questions & Answers

    Why did Apple caution its users against using Chrome?
    Apple cited security risks as the primary reason for advising its users against using the Chrome browser. The company highlighted through a past advertisement that its own Safari browser offers better protection of personal data.

    What was the purpose of Google’s Privacy Sandbox?
    Google’s Privacy Sandbox was intended to replace third-party cookies in Chrome. It sought to understand consumer interests without having to track user behavior across the internet, facilitating the delivery of personalized ads.

    Why did Google decide to cancel the Privacy Sandbox?
    Google stated that the Privacy Sandbox had not been adopted widely and that it wasn’t providing enough value to its users, which led to its decision to discontinue the project.

  • Meta Tests Monthly Message Caps On Whatsapp To Curb Spamming

    Meta Tests Monthly Message Caps On Whatsapp To Curb Spamming

    Meta is planning on introducing a message limit for both individual users and businesses on its platform, WhatsApp. This move is designed to deter messages being sent en masse to unknown contacts without eliciting a response.

    Details of the New Limit

    The tech giant’s new strategy is to implement a monthly cap on the number of messages that can be sent without receiving a reply. All the messages dispatched on the platform will count towards this proposed limit. The exact number constituting the monthly cap remains undisclosed with Meta confirming that it is still in the process of testing various thresholds.

    In the upcoming weeks, the company plans to initiate trials of these new restrictions in multiple countries, although the specifics have yet to be determined.

    User Notifications and Alerts

    WhatsApp will proactively alert users who are nearing the set limit through a pop-up notification. This alert will indicate the remaining number of messages that can be sent before the limit is reached, thus enabling users to manage their activity and avoid being completely barred from sending messages.

    Impact on the Average User

    Meta assures that the average user will not be impacted by this new measure. The company explains that the limits are primarily intended to combat spam and will therefore not affect most users. As long as users are not excessively sending messages to a wide range of contacts, they are expected to remain unaffected by this change.

    This is not the first instance of WhatsApp taking measures to combat spam. Previous features introduced by the company were aimed at enabling users to easily exit unfamiliar group chats, block messages directly from the lock screen, and entirely block messages from unknown users.

    Curbing the Spread of Spam

    While Meta acknowledges that the new message limit will not entirely resolve the issue of spam on WhatsApp, it believes that it will effectively curtail its proliferation. The company is optimistic that this measure will deter spammers who indiscriminately send messages to random WhatsApp numbers, thereby making the process of spamming more challenging.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the new limit that Meta is introducing on WhatsApp?
    Meta is implementing a monthly cap on the number of messages that can be sent on WhatsApp without receiving a reply. The exact number constituting this limit is still being tested.

    How will users know if they are approaching the message limit?
    WhatsApp will alert users nearing the set limit through a pop-up notification. This will indicate the number of messages remaining before the limit is reached.

    Will the average user be affected by this new limit?
    According to Meta, most users will not be affected by this new measure as it is primarily being introduced to combat spam. If users are not excessively sending messages to a wide range of contacts, they are likely to remain unaffected.

  • Google will allow you to hide ads in your search results, but only after scrolling

    Google will allow you to hide ads in your search results, but only after scrolling

    Google is modifying the display and functionality of text advertisements in search results. The biggest development is that Google will now give users the option to hide sponsored search results if they are uninterested. However, there is a small caveat to this new feature.

    Scroll to Hide Sponsored Results

    At present, paid search results on Google are individually tagged as “Sponsored”. Google has revealed that moving forward, text ads in search results will be collectively displayed in a collapsible section at the top of the search page. This section will carry a single, more noticeable label that remains apparent as you scroll through the results.

    Arguably the most significant change is a new feature that allows users to hide all sponsored results with just a single click. This button is located at the base of the text ad section. Once clicked, the advertisements will hide under the sponsored heading. With another tap, users can reveal these ads again if they choose.

    Changes to Search Result Appearance

    Over time, Google has made a series of adjustments to the appearance of paid search results, making them look similar to organic results. While these changes were not always popular among users, the new update is unlikely to elicit negative responses. Google’s aim, it says, is to “make navigation even easier”. However, this goal seems somewhat counterintuitive given the placement of the hide button at the bottom of the sponsored links.

    A constant feature in these developments is the escalating influence of artificial intelligence (AI) in Google Search results. Google has pointed out that the Sponsored results label will now appear above or below the AI Overviews. This means users might have to scroll even further to hide the ads.

    Global Rollout of Google Search Update

    The update to Google Search is already being rolled out worldwide to both desktop and mobile users.

    While hiding ads may improve the scrolling experience in search results, it does not address a central issue some users have: the diminishing usefulness of Google Search. This has led some to experiment with other search engines and AI tools to find the required information.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the main change in Google’s ad display?

    Google is grouping text ads into a collapsible section at the top of the search page with a single, noticeable label. Users can hide or reveal these sponsored results with a single click.

    How is AI affecting Google Search results?

    AI is playing an increasingly important role in Google Search results. The Sponsored results label will now appear above or below the AI Overviews, which may cause users to scroll further to hide ads.

    Are there any concerns with the new update?

    The main concern is that while hiding ads may improve the scrolling experience, it does not enhance the overall usefulness of Google Search, causing some users to explore other search engines and AI tools.

  • Black Eyed Peas Announce Grand Return To Hong Kong After Two Decades

    Black Eyed Peas Announce Grand Return To Hong Kong After Two Decades

    Mark the 19th of November on your calendars, as the Grammy-winning R&B, hip-hop, and pop sensation, The Black Eyed Peas, are set to make a grand return to Hong Kong. The concert will take place at AXA Wonderland in West Kowloon.

    Back After Twenty Years

    Almost two decades have passed since The Black Eyed Peas last performed in Hong Kong, their memorable show taking place at the AsiaWorld-Expo. Fans can anticipate an energizing blend of fresh tracks and some of the band’s most recognizable chart-topping hits. Many will be hoping for renditions of popular songs such as ‘Where Is the Love?’, ‘I Gotta Feeling’, ‘Pump It’, ‘Boom Boom Pow’, and ‘Let’s Get It Started’, and would undoubtedly be ready to dance along if they played.

    The Current Formation

    The current line-up for The Black Eyed Peas includes will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo. The group’s vocal duties have been taken over by the Filipino-American singer, J. Rey Soul, after the departure of Fergie in 2018. While fans may miss Fergie’s distinctive vocals, they can still look forward to a nostalgic night filled with singing along to their favorite tunes from the 2000s and dancing like it’s 2005.

    Tickets and Pricing

    There’s currently no word on when tickets will go on sale or what the pricing tiers might be. Keep an eye out for further details!

    Questions & Answers

    When is The Black Eyed Peas’ concert in Hong Kong?
    The concert is scheduled for the 19th of November.

    Who are the current members of The Black Eyed Peas?
    The current formation of the group includes will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, and J. Rey Soul.

    What can fans expect from the concert?
    Fans can look forward to a nostalgic evening featuring a mix of new material and some of the band’s most popular chart-topping hits.

  • Gap Inc. Partners With Google Cloud, Leveraging Ai To Revolutionize Retail And Customer Experience

    Gap Inc. Partners With Google Cloud, Leveraging Ai To Revolutionize Retail And Customer Experience

    Gap Inc. has joined forces with Google Cloud in a multi-year partnership aimed at fast-tracking the company’s tech strategy through the application of artificial intelligence (AI). The overarching objective is to bolster operations and improve consumer interactions throughout its various brands.

    Harnessing the Power of AI

    According to Sven Gerjets, Gap Inc’s Chief Technology Officer, the company is embracing AI as a transformative tool in retail, building its future tech roadmap around it.

    He stated, “This partnership offers us the proficiency and speed to integrate AI throughout our operations, enabling our teams, igniting creativity, and delivering to our customers more swiftly and with a higher degree of personalisation than ever before.”

    The collaboration with Google Cloud will equip Gap with a cohesive, AI-powered platform devised to enhance product development, planning, and pricing processes. This will spark creativity and efficiency across all its brands, which include Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta.

    To facilitate product design, customer experience, and employee enablement, Gap will utilize Google Cloud technologies such as Gemini, Vertex AI, and BigQuery.

    Reinventing Retail with AI

    Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, saying it’s about revolutionising the retail landscape with AI and supporting Gap in leading the industry in terms of speed, personalisation, and game-changing customer experiences.

    With AI, Gap envisages creating a hyper-personalised shopping experience for consumers, enabling stronger storytelling and relevance to engage a wider audience. Furthermore, Google AI will assist Gap in optimizing ad placements and fortifying omnichannel marketing through Google Ads.

    Gap has already begun leveraging AI tools to aid employees in decision-making and execution, thereby enhancing efficiency.

    Sven Gerjets stated, “By re-engineering our workflows and empowering every employee with AI, we are allowing Gap Inc teams to concentrate on creativity, culture, and customer connection, while preserving the company’s human-centric DNA at the heart of innovation.”

    Questions & Answers

    What is the aim of the partnership between Gap Inc and Google Cloud?
    The partnership aims to accelerate Gap Inc’s tech strategy through AI, thereby improving operations and customer experiences across all of its brands.

    How will Gap Inc implement Google Cloud technologies?
    Gap Inc will utilize Google Cloud technologies to enhance product development, planning, and pricing procedures, and streamline product design, customer experience, and employee enablement.

    How will AI effect the shopping experience for Gap Inc’s customers?
    With AI, Gap Inc aims to create a hyper-personalised shopping experience for customers, enabling stronger storytelling and reach to a wider audience.

  • Apple To Revolutionize Mixed Reality With Next-gen Vision Pro 2: New Chip, Enhanced Performance

    Apple To Revolutionize Mixed Reality With Next-gen Vision Pro 2: New Chip, Enhanced Performance

    Apple’s Vision Pro, rather than relying solely on one chip for power, utilizes both the M2 and the R1 chips. In a recent development, reports suggest that Apple plans to incorporate the R2 chip in the next iteration of its premium Mixed Reality (MR) headset, adding a new feature to the device’s already impressive specifications.

    Delayed Announcement

    The successor to the Vision Pro was initially anticipated to be unveiled this month, along with the iPhone 17 series. To the disappointment of many MR aficionados, this did not occur, as the event was exclusively dedicated to the launch of the newly redesigned phones. Many speculate that the delay in the headset’s announcement is due to the incorporation of the R2 chip, pushing the launch to next year.

    Towards A More Capable Headset

    The new R2 chip is said to be created using TSMC’s 2 nm process, a significant advancement from the R1 chip. Combined with the M4 processor — speculated to be part of the new headset — the Vision Pro 2 promises to deliver significantly enhanced performance. The R-series chips are designed to work in sync with the M-series processor, managing the input from the headset’s numerous sensors and cameras. This functionality made the Vision Pro a feature-packed device, a contributing factor to its steep price tag of $3,499.

    The 2 nm R2 chip is expected to process these inputs even quicker, thereby enabling the new Vision Pro to support more complex applications. However, this improvement might not be noticeable for an average user. The general performance will be significantly improved, but not necessarily in a discernible manner.

    Staying Relevant in the XR Industry

    The new Vision Pro headset is primarily intended to ensure Apple’s relevance in the Extended Reality (XR) industry. The key ambition for the company is the development of AR smart glasses, with the aim to outpace Meta in the market. Recently, the new Meta Ray-Ban Display smart glasses were unveiled. While these glasses don’t offer true AR, they mark the company’s entry into the AR market, reminding Apple to reiterate its commitment to XR devices.

    Questions & Answers

    What significant changes are expected in the successor to the Apple Vision Pro?
    The successor is expected to incorporate the R2 chip, which is a significant enhancement from the R1 chip used in the current model.

    What is the speculated release date for the successor to the Vision Pro?
    The release is projected to be delayed till next year, due to the proposed incorporation of the new R2 chip.

    Why is Apple developing the new Vision Pro headset?
    The new Vision Pro headset is primarily a measure to maintain Apple’s presence and relevance in the rapidly growing Extended Reality (XR) industry.

  • Iphone 17 Air: Apple’s Technological Experiment Or The Gateway To Slimmer Future?

    Iphone 17 Air: Apple’s Technological Experiment Or The Gateway To Slimmer Future?

    The upcoming Tuesday holds significant excitement for technology enthusiasts and Apple aficionados as the tech giant is all set to disclose its latest iPhone models. While iPhone 17 Air seems to be the anticipated highlight of the event, a stark comparison is emerging between this new ultra-slim iPhone and the initial version of MacBook Air released back in 2008.

    The Comparison

    The first MacBook Air, launched over a decade ago, was a pricey offering with subpar power and average battery life. It was an odd addition to Apple’s lineup, positioned between the more affordable yet potent MacBook and the superior MacBook Pro. A similar narrative is being speculated for the iPhone 17 Air, which is likely to be noticeably slimmer but could compromise on crucial elements such as battery life and camera quality, particularly the availability of a single rear camera in a market dominated by dual or triple camera setups.

    The New ‘Air’ Model

    The new “Air” variant is anticipated to be positioned between the standard iPhone 17, which will offer superior battery life and additional cameras, and the iPhone 17 Pro, which is expected to outshine in all meaningful aspects. While thinness is touted as the unique selling proposition, it doesn’t hold the same appeal as it once did when laptops were noticeably bulky. Current smartphones are far from being cumbersome, and as evidenced by the underwhelming sales of Samsung’s comparably slim S25 Edge, consumers are not overly keen on sacrificing power for a slimmer form.

    Outlook

    Similar to the first MacBook Air, the iPhone 17 Air is unlikely to become an instant success, but rather a technological experiment for Apple. As a tech preview, it will be a platform to test new engineering designs, battery technologies, and manufacturing processes that could later percolate through the entire lineup. This device is predicted to set the course for a slimmer future for all iPhones and may also lay the foundation for a foldable device. Despite its visionary glimpse into the future, the iPhone 17 Air may not deliver the best return on investment, with better value expected from the iPhone 17 or the iPhone 17 Pro.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the expected position of the iPhone 17 Air in Apple’s lineup?
    The iPhone 17 Air is anticipated to be positioned between the standard iPhone 17 and the superior iPhone 17 Pro.

    What compromises are expected with the iPhone 17 Air?
    The iPhone 17 Air is suspected to compromise on crucial aspects such as battery life and camera performance, in favor of a slimmer form.

    What could be the primary purpose of the iPhone 17 Air in Apple’s lineup?
    The iPhone 17 Air will likely serve as a technology preview, allowing Apple to test new engineering designs, battery technologies, and manufacturing processes.

  • Amazon Australia launches B2B store it says will help businesses cut costs

    Amazon Australia launches B2B store it says will help businesses cut costs

    Amazon Business, a new platform designed to streamline operations and decrease expenses for organizations of various sizes, has been introduced by Amazon Australia. The platform will feature focused sections for kitchen and pantry goods, cleaning and sanitation products, alongside stationary, IT commodities, and maintenance solutions.

    Addressing Business Needs

    Amazon Business aims to cater to the specific needs of business buyers, offering them tailored features for convenience. These include exclusive business pricing and volume discounts on eligible items. The platform also provides options for single or multi-user business accounts, Business Prime, and dedicated customer service.

    The introduction of this platform comes at a critical time when inflating expenses have been impacting small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Australia. Research reveals that 92% of these SMBs have experienced a rise in operational costs over the past three years. Consequently, 83% of them have been compelled to transfer these expenses to their customers.

    Furthermore, the same research unveiled that over 80% of Australian SMBs have had to increase their prices by an average of 13% due to the escalating cost pressures.

    Gearing Up for Expansion

    Lena Zak, Country Manager of Amazon Business Australia, expressed excitement about the new platform. Zak emphasized the benefits of Amazon Business, stating that this development would be highly advantageous for the numerous SMBs operating across Australia. Zak further highlighted that Amazon Australia has substantially invested in enhancing its operations network to facilitate a smooth, speedy, and reliable shopping experience for its customers.

    With this latest launch, Australia becomes the eleventh country to offer Amazon Business, joining the ranks of countries like the U.S., U.K., Germany, Japan, among others. Since its debut in 2015 in the U.S., Amazon Business has expanded its customer base to over 8 million worldwide. The platform reportedly generates approximately $35 billion in annual gross sales.

    Questions & Answers

    What is Amazon Business?
    Amazon Business is a platform designed to simplify operations and reduce costs for organizations. It provides business-only pricing, quantity discounts, and options for single or multi-user business accounts, among other features.

    What does the launch of Amazon Business imply for Australian SMBs?
    The launch comes at a time when rising operational costs have been impacting Australian SMBs. It aims to offer them a streamlined, cost-effective way of procuring necessary items, thereby helping them manage their expenses.

    How has Amazon Business performed since its inception?
    Since its launch in the U.S. in 2015, Amazon Business has grown to more than 8 million customers globally. The platform reportedly generates approximately $35 billion in annualized gross sales.