speculations

Dispatch from an advertising future #50

https://www.thedrum.com/news/2020/03/20/even-better-the-real-thing-meet-the-virtual-influencers-taking-over-your-feeds He was glad the lockdown was still in place. It meant he couldn’t go out and so didn’t need to put on a disguise just to leave his flat. He could just sit at home and work. His face was more popular than ever as his followers whiled away… Read the rest

Dispatch from an advertising future #49

https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2020/03/13/mental-wellbeing-within-agencies-flexibility-and-stability It popped up in the lower right corner. Two googly eyes on an animated clip. “Hello there!” Cheery chirruped, “just checking in.” It raised an animated eyebrow and nodded at the time. “Now you’ve finished with the client, let’s Cheerypause (™),” it said. She sighed. Since home had become… Read the rest

Dispatch from an advertising future #48

https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/news/eurosportbuildsbiometricbenchmarks/43318 The good thing about a conference in a cinema was the seats. They’d been designed for comfort: blockbuster, popcorn comfort. Cup holder on the left, emotion panel on the right. She settled in for the first of her boss’ two appearances that year. She knew what she had to… Read the rest

Dispatch from an Advertising Future #47

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/615302/how-coronavirus-turned-the-dystopian-joke-of-faceid-masks-into-a-reality/ Life was more difficult since the outbreak. She’d had to reprogramme the phone security apps and the algorithms were taking some time to recognise her muffled speech. But where she really noticed it was when she was out. She’d got used to being recognised. Knowing her coffee would be… Read the rest

Dispatch from an Advertising Future #46

https://www.thedrum.com/news/2020/02/24/singapore-based-dark-kitchen-uses-ai-craft-menu-based-consumers-needshttps://adage.com/article/advertising/brands-line-respond-burger-kings-moldy-whopper-campaign/2238481 They called it a Dark Agency, but the screens and dataflows gave the container an eerie glow. When teams swapped shifts they blinked as their eyes adjusted. The Order came in on one screen. She turned to the Creative Intelligence (™) feed and read off datapoints. ‘Suggested’ CI (™)… Read the rest

Dispatch from an advertising future #45

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/feb/16/ai-systems-claiming-to-read-emotions-pose-discrimination-risks It had been hard work. Maths wasn’t like that when she was at school… but then again, her parents hadn’t helped her with homework. They’d stared at the problem and asked the video assistant for help. Sam had tried to explain but she’d just scowled, like when Sam had… Read the rest

Dispatch from an Advertising Future #44

https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/adrian-holmes-partners-industry-veterans-launch-londons-oldest-agency/1673225 We put the band back together. In our industry, players move. Variety may be the spice of life but sometimes people just want the original lineup, the gig they remember. Here at Reunion (™) we make that gig happen. Our brands want the lineup they remember, the one that… Read the rest

Dispatch from an advertising future #43

https://voicebot.ai/2020/01/28/facebook-makes-new-99-99-ai-navigation-model-open-source/ The playlist filled the room as soon as the new soundbar found the network. The music swept around the room creating the sort of soundstage Alex’s father had needed endless speakers and wires to create. And he’d had to get up to ‘change the disc’. She smiled and said… Read the rest

Dispatch from an advertising future #42

https://www.thedrum.com/news/2020/01/27/ee-marries-high-fashion-and-hi-tech-bafta-showpiecehttps://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/chelsea-fc-unveils-three-next-shirt-sponsor/1671909 The team ran onto the pitch: home team in white; away in green. He raised his phone in salute as the crowd got to its feet. The kit lit up with travel brands’ logos and the offer ad swept across the players as they stood for the anthems.… Read the rest

Dispatch from an advertising future #41

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-18/amazon-plans-terminals-which-allow-payments-by-wave-of-hand-dj She paid and took their coffees. It always felt religious. A laying on of hands, she thought. She was prevaricating. A deep breath and she turned from the counter. This was no big deal. Look he was smiling. She smiled back. That sent the right signals. She was cool,… Read the rest