Dispatch from an advertising future #66

https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/07/16/1005284/openai-ai-gpt-2-generates-images/

Scamp (™): We’ll finish that for you.

Times are tough. We’re all trying to make best use of the resources we have. We’d all love to have AI that is as creative as our human teams, but we’re not there yet. Here at Scamp (™), we don’t pretend our systems can be as creative as your best art director. The best ideas start in the human brain, pencil and sketchbook. The Scamp (™) system doesn’t replace that: we augment it, take those scamps to finished artwork. And now with ScampHR (™) we’ll help you rewrite your contracts as zero hours.

Micro-speculations w/c 13/7/20

He missed the fussball table, the free foot massages… the start-up vibe. As he opened another “start (up) your day (TM) innovation-food” package with its cheery message from the founder, he sighed and grabbed a donut.
https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/news/a-new-era-in-functional-foods/43850

He was nostalgic so he dialed up the ‘wonkey wheel’ as the display reminded him of his 5:2 day. He strapped the baby into the seat. After a few seconds, the trolley announced an offer on nappies as it directed him to the baby changing room. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/14/amazon-rolls-out-shopping-carts-that-eliminate-checkout-lines.html

As the call began the voices had good separation as the contributions flowed onto the whiteboard. All the participants were being recognised. He reached for the mixer desk and faded her down… just a little… https://voicebot.ai/2020/07/15/facebooks-new-ai-model-can-distinguish-five-voices-speaking-simultaneously/

She flicked the switch and the view narrowed. No longer panorama, now detail. Landscape became dappled light on a leaf. Cityscape zoomed in on an espresso cup. She turned. Specific, objects came into focus. She flicked the switch back and sighed. https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/news/virtual-product-tours-have-positive-impact-on-consumers/43866

Dispatch from an advertising future #65

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/marketers-learn-anything-from-return-qr-code-jerry-daykin

They had always been “anti-chippers”. She still remembered the puzzled look on the midwife’s face when she’d refused the “simple procedure”… and the corporate goody bag. It had made parenting a little more difficult. Tracking the bio data and of course location, but it was the principle. It was her child’s body. 

But since schools had closed, sorry “moved online”, the chipless had been excluded. The systems simply didn’t recognise them and “deliver the personal learning experience”. At least until a retro chip-refuser had rediscovered QR and temporary tattoos .

He held his hand up to the webcam. His ‘teacher’ appeared.

Micro-speculations w/c 6/7/20

He left his avatar by the water cooler: conversation set to “football”, style on “witty”. He left the dining room table and went to the kitchen. When he got back he checked the “overheard” and added the fragments to his Office Graph. A new link lit up. https://digiday.com/marketing/bringing-serendipity-back-to-the-office/

He looked deep into it. It was dark. He saw little, but it could see him. It called him to join it. Align forces. Remake the landscape. He saw his future and reached for it. “Fool of an industry!” He snapped. https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/06/secretive-data-startup-palantir-has-confidentially-filed-for-an-ipo/

He giggled. He read his comic under the table. His earbuds piped the sports commentary. He passed a message to his friend, his eyes fixed firmly towards the front. He giggled again. The meeting host sighed and moved him down to the front. https://www.theregister.com/2020/07/08/microsoft_together_mode/

Are you continual curating? Every night on Photoshop a new room? Searching SoundCloud for the right children’s voices? Exhausted editing home? Get JustMyHome (TM) and let our algorithms builds you the perfect WfH office. https://hbr.org/2020/07/parents-bring-your-whole-self-to-work

Dispatch from an advertising future #64

https://singularityhub.com/2020/07/01/a-highway-to-smell-how-scientists-used-light-to-incept-smell-in-mice/

She was being good. Waiting in line. Moving from one pavement sticker to another. The line was moving slowly but the masked and gloved doorman was letting people in, gradually. She was on her phone of course, swiping through posts, adding data points to her profile as she waited. The shop windows played cheery animations, casting light out onto the dark pavement. As the queue moved and she stepped from pools of blue to pools of red, she caught the hint of a smell. She couldn’t place it but it transported her. A powerful memory. Madeleine stopped swiping and searched

Micro-speculations: w/c 29/6/20

The flaneur walked behind his turtle, which glitched as they passed the sensor. The algorithms in the pavement ran and reran the data looking for patterns. The sensors looked for the fault. https://www.thedrum.com/news/2020/06/30/will-our-cities-be-smarter-after-lockdown

It was the sound of summer. The ‘Mister Offer Jingle’ sounded around the streets, bringing people excitedly out of their houses… “I scream, you scream, we all scream for… a 99p offer” the van said. https://www.adweek.com/digital/amazon-acquires-zoox-paving-the-way-for-deliveries-with-driverless-vehicles/

The earnings statement seemed a little short. She’d paid attention but wasn’t getting the AttentionCredits (TM). She pulled up the helpbot which suggested she check the fit of her AttentionBand (TM). There was no option to speak to anyone in payroll. https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/news/why-brands-should-consider-attention-based-metrics/43807

The children gathered around the sign. Waving. Conducting. Even if they could read, the speed of their hands meant the messages swirled. Staccato signifiers. The parents smiled at their creativity. The algorithms tried to make sense of the tracking. https://www.thedrum.com/news/2020/07/02/will-hygiene-concerns-usher-new-era-touchless-tech