speculations

VMLY&R launches new ‘home for connected brands’, built to reconnect a hybrid world

https://www.thedrum.com/news/2022/10/24/vmlyr-launches-new-home-connected-brands-built-reconnect-hybrid-world It’s a lot easier to just let my partner deal with it all TBH. I mean, that’s why they still employ teams isn’t it. Complementary skills. Dialectical creativity. When I was looking for a partner I wanted someone who wasn’t the same as me. Someone I could bounce ideas off. Someone who would challenge … [Read more…]

The stubborn persistence of paper in a digital world

https://www.ft.com/content/16ad85e4-ba2d-487c-bc91-6f90e934974f It seemed like it was every other panel. The new big thing. The great hope for the future. Bubble or bandwagon. Every pundit was talking about it. Every vendor wanted to be seen to be in front of it. Every speaker had their own take. It served as opening gambit in every networking conversation … [Read more…]

The Hottest App Right Now? One Where Teens Have to Say Nice Things About Each Other

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-hottest-app-right-now-one-where-teens-have-to-say-nice-things-about-each-other-11665940854 It had been one of those days. He called them “Great Resignation Days”. He had the message in draft and his finger hovered. He didn’t need this. Pink Floyd played in his mind, school wasn’t the only place where you felt like just another brick. I am not a number he yelled silently. Before … [Read more…]

Meta’s New Headset Will Track Your Eyes for Targeted Ads

Meta’s New Headset Will Track Your Eyes for Targeted Ads https://gizmodo.com/meta-quest-pro-vr-headset-track-eyes-ads-facebook-1849654424 “But I hate them… none of the other kids have to wear them… They laugh at me!” “Listen, we agreed to you having a headset because you said that you wouldn’t be able to hang out with your mates if you didn’t have one. … [Read more…]

Dispatch from an advertising future #265

Online Art Communities Begin Banning AI-Generated Images https://waxy.org/2022/09/online-art-communities-begin-banning-ai-generated-images/ Heh, it’s not fair. I’m trying to build a career here. Get a start. Get noticed. Recognised. That’s what the awards are for. Get one on my CV and I’m made. So why do I have to compete against them. Look, humans and AI are different. We’re … [Read more…]

Dispatch from an advertising future #264

Roblox Is Testing Dynamic Billboards in the Metaverse With New Ad Platform https://www.adweek.com/commerce/roblox-testing-dynamic-billboards-in-the-metaverse-new-ad-platform/ They said it would be long hours. But really, I’m knackered. It’s stupid O’clock. It’s great feeling as though the agency values me, needs me really. But I can’t do it all. Nights, weekends. The demands, expectations. My thumbs hurt. My eyes … [Read more…]

Dispatch from an advertising future #262

Actors worry that AI is taking centre stage https://www.ft.com/content/7c26a93f-88ec-4a50-8529-7df81af86208 I mean, who’s serving in Starbucks while we all turn up for this cattle market? At least we don’t have to travel to auditions now. Trust me, Zoom filters are a must. Polish that accent, perfect that character. There’s a bleak camaraderie about it. Waiting to … [Read more…]

Dispatch from an advertising future #261

WhatsApp’s super app ambitions are starting to come true in India https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/29/23326687/whatsapp-jiomart-india-super-app-grocery-shopping He’s great. Always got time for a customer. You can tell him anything, talk any old stuff. He doesn’t so much give advice, he just listens. You can just chat while you’re getting stuff. Drop in for a quick one. He’ll serve you … [Read more…]

Dispatch from an advertising future #260

Zuckerberg says Meta’s next VR headset will launch in October and will focus on ‘social presence’ https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/26/zuckerberg-says-metas-next-vr-headset-will-launch-in-october-and-will-focus-on-social-presence/ It had taken some time getting him there. Maybe it was the word ‘therapist’… or maybe the word ‘couple’: probably both. As the therapist tried to get him to talk about their relationship and his position in it, … [Read more…]

Dispatch from an advertising future #259

Thames Water reviews data centres’ water use as London hosepipe ban looms https://www.ft.com/content/8d8bf26f-5df2-4ff6-91d0-369500ed1a9c The village had voted overwhelmingly for it. Some said the residents had no real choice. There weren’t many other options in that area. Those that could had moved away believing things were better in the South or in the city or somewhere… … [Read more…]