Dispatch from an advertising future #186

https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/4/22657026/facebook-mislabeling-video-black-men-primates-algorithm Facebook says its AI mislabeling a video of Black men as “primates” was “unacceptable” As a union we are committed to diversity and inclusion across the businesses where our members work. We are also committed to our members being treated fairly. If management does not play its part in creating an inclusive environment then …

Dispatch from an advertising future #174

https://www.ft.com/content/006ebaf6-a76c-4257-a343-f1db1f7b39e7 English schools turn to AI to help students catch up after Covid It happens every September. I remember. As I meet the new class, I remember the ones who have moved on, My boys. I remember them all, of course I do. It’s my job. I can recall their faces as well as their …

Dispatch from an advertising future #156

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/31/microsoft-wins-contract-to-make-modified-hololens-for-us-army.html By the end I even liked him. Respected him of course but maybe at some level a sense in which I saw him, if not as a friend, at least as someone I knew was there for me. It hadn’t started that way of course. I hated him. He hated me. He was straight …

Dispatch from an advertising future #94

https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-air-faa-approval-drone-delivery-trials-142035317.htm As the drone approached, the playlist faded out and the familiar voice gave a ‘time of arrival’- there was never anything “estimated”. He’d paid extra to opt out of the follow-on upsell adverts, but he couldn’t turn off the earworm jingles behind the announcement. His sigh was picked up and logged, the data sent …

Dispatch from an advertising future #58

https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/22/21266251/nvidia-ai-gamegan-recreate-pac-man-virutal-environment Some of my colleagues get the cool gig: Cannes, watching hours of case studies, reading entries. They don’t have a glass of rosé, but they do get to hang with the creatives and then pitch their ideas. Even my colleagues in the studio get to show off. They watch and listen to the teams …

Dispatch from an advertising future #1

People at King’s Cross site express unease about facial recognition The SmartPram (™) buzzed as she crossed the threshold. “Welcome back. Your coffee’s waiting for you. I was going to order Sam’s usual orange juice but I see the allergy’s playing up so I’ll order water.”, The SmartPram (™) steered towards the coffeeshop. “I know …