YouTube tests its AI-generated green screen feature for Shorts
YouTube is currently testing an AI feature tailored for its vertical video format, Shorts, called ‘Dream Screen.’ This functionality utilizes AI to create green screen backgrounds, allowing users to enhance their videos creatively. The tool aims to make videos more distinctive or thematically aligned but is currently available only to select Shorts creators for experimentation. Announced via YouTube’s support page, the platform stated, “We’re experimenting with a new feature, Dream Screen, that uses AI to generate image green screen backgrounds for Shorts.” However, it didn’t specify the AI model used. Additionally, the platform also stated that users with access to Dream Screen can input a text prompt describing their desired background, such as ‘fancy hotel pool on a tropical island,’ and AI will generate the scene for use as the video’s background. As an experimental feature, Dream Screen is currently accessible only to select Shorts creators. However, YouTube plans to extend this tool to more creators later in 2024, indicating a gradual expansion beyond its current limited availability.
TN law to place time, user curbs on all online games
The Tamil Nadu administration is leaning toward passing legislation that laces time and usage curbs on online and real money games, The initiative is being spearheaded by Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA); a five-member regulatory authority formed in August 2023. The objective of the regulatory body is to regulate online games of all kinds in the state. They (TNOGA) strongly believe that both children and adults need guidance on the appropriate amount of time spent on online gaming, with or without monetary involvement,” a source said. The move could set a precedent for other states which have also been struggling to find ways to curb the perils of online and real money gaming such as depression and addiction. Though the TNOGA agreed that the ministry of electronics and information technology at the Centre would continue to be the nodal ministry and that the state government would follow the central government guidelines, the state aims to tighten the rules in its jurisdiction. “While they (TNOGA) agreed that it is a significant problem of illegal and offshore platforms, they said that their priority remains regulating domestic companies, hoping this will set a precedent for broader regulation,” the note added. The IT ministry at the Centre was also leaning towards imposing time and spending limits on online and real money games to tackle gaming addiction among children and young adults. Imposing time and spend limits is considered a better approach to curb addiction than certifying games as permissible or non-permissible through self-regulatory organizations (SRO) and leaving it up to them to determine how many hours children or young adults should play. The TNOGA is also building a knowledge repository and seeking information from companies to understand the industry better and get a sense of the total number of online gamers in the state.
From coffee to soaps to serums, it’s AI time for FMCG companies
For the country’s largest packaged consumer goods maker Hindustan Unilever (HUL), the contribution from premium products to annual sales, especially in laundry, skincare and shampoo, averaged 25% in Q4 FY24. Tata Consumer Products Ltd (TCPL), which makes Tata Tea Gold and Himalayan Saffron and Preserves, reported that its premium salts contributed as much as 42% of its overall salt sales on e-commerce platforms. Nestlé, ITC, Britannia and Marico, too reported that the growth of their premium portfolios is outpacing that of the mass products. Simply put, premium is where the action is. Consumer demand for top-end products is outpacing mass products. To keep up with premiumisation, India’s top FMCG players are making moves they’ve never made. They are rethinking their traditional go-to-market ways. To enable better products to be sold optimally, they are turning to artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), trade digitisation and other tech tools. The ways in which this is happening are varied. Some use tech to micro-segment target consumers even in pin codes where they already have a presence. They also use tech to reduce go-to-market lead times by a third or fourth and launch products within weeks compared to a year or two earlier. Across premium teas, cookies, laundry, beauty and nutrition drinks executives say that segmenting budgets is crucial. That is a key area that tech is being used in. Even though overall growth performance of FMCG companies remained underwhelming in the past two quarters, their premium portfolios continue to outperform the rest-of-the-portfolio across categories. Tech can play a critical role in keeping it there. HUL says it is banking on its ‘Agile Innovation’ – an AI enabled hub for product design, development and testing, to improve speed-to-innovations, demand generation and fulfillment. The company’s in-house tech tool Livewire combines disparate data sets to analyze performance across multiple business levers. Their search engine, Chanakya, culls out granular data to speed and scale. Another tool Jarvis, enabled by machine learning, is being used for optimisation of investments across pricing and promotions, to understand nuances such as price elasticity and simulating different market scenarios, the company noted on its website.
Amazon backs social media influencers, launches Creator University
Amazon is ramping up its engagement with India’s social media influencers by promoting them to create content directly on its platform. The e-commerce giant is hosting offline connect workshops to educate influencers on product features and content creation. “We are creating more avenues for these creators to syndicate or create new content directly on Amazon. Amazon Live is a great example of this. Through live streaming, creators can talk directly to customers, who can chat back in real time. In fact, in India, we have some of the highest chat rates, and these streams are phenomenal,” said Zahid Khan, Director of Shopping Initiatives, India & Emerging Markets at Amazon. Khan highlighted Amazon’s dual approach: leveraging external social media platforms and fostering engaging content directly on Amazon. According to Amazon’s secondary data, approximately 60% of customers rely on information from creators or influencers before making a purchase decision. This underscores Amazon’s strategy to partner with both popular and mid-tier creators to boost sales. Amazon announced the launch of Amazon Creator University, an educational program designed to equip content creators with video tutorials, articles, workshops, and case studies to succeed on the platform.
Study highlights blind spots in organizations’ AI strategies
While organizations are showing overconfidence in their artificial intelligence (AI) plans, fragmented AI strategies and poor execution are failing to leverage the technology, revealed a new research report. According to the findings of the report commissioned by Hewlett Packard Enterprise, nearly half (44%) of IT leaders surveyed believe their organizations are fully set up to realize the benefits of AI. The report however reveals critical gaps in their strategies, such as a lack of alignment between processes and metrics, resulting in consequential fragmentation in approach, which will further exacerbate delivery issues. The report, ‘Architect an AI Advantage’, which surveyed more than 2,000 IT leaders from 14 countries, including India, found that while global commitment to AI shows growing investments, businesses are overlooking key areas that will have a bearing on their ability to deliver successful AI outcomes. For example, the report underscores the critical role of data quality in driving effective AI performance. Despite acknowledging data management’s significance, organizations’ data maturity levels remain low. Only a small fraction (7%) of respondents can execute real-time data pushes/pulls for innovation and external data monetization, while a mere 26% have established data governance models for advanced analytics. Furthermore, gaps persist in compute and networking requirements throughout the AI lifecycle, raising concerns about provisioning accuracy. Despite high confidence levels in network infrastructure and compute capacity flexibility, less than half of IT leaders claim a full understanding of AI workload demands across different stages, indicating potential provisioning inaccuracies. Notably, the report highlights organizational silos and neglect of ethics and compliance as key challenges. There’s no doubt AI adoption is picking up pace, with nearly all IT leaders planning to increase their AI spend over the next 12 months. These findings demonstrate the appetite for AI, but they also highlight very real blind spots that could see progress stagnate if a more holistic approach is not followed.
Amazon Prime Video-MX Player merger a threat for Jiocinema, Youtube
Amazon has announced that it would not be acquiring MX Player but agreed to buy some of its assets, including its content library, to strengthen its presence in India. This move will help Amazon Prime Video compete with JioCinema and YouTube, further penetrate Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as well as rural areas, and create new avenues for advertising revenue, especially with regard to its Mini TV service. Ashish Bhasin, Founder of The Bhasin Consulting Group, remarked, “This move by Amazon will give them further access to tier two, tier three towns, and rural India. The potential for growth in these areas is tremendous, particularly now that we are seeing the green shoots of rural revival. If the monsoons go well, we will see it happening sooner.” “This aligns perfectly with the expected surge of 150 to 200 MN new internet users in these regions over the next three years,” added Bhasin, citing PwC.
Meta’s WhatsApp launches new AI tools for businesses
Meta-owned messaging app WhatsApp is testing new artificial intelligence (AI) tools for small businesses to better assist consumers in India and Singapore. The move aims at amplifying the company’s efforts to turn messaging apps into viable business units, said analysts. Meta said that AI tools help businesses on WhatsApp better assist their customers and help them discover new products they may be interested in. The company is training AI to respond to the most popular questions businesses receive on WhatsApp, so they can quickly help customers find the answers they’re seeking. Meta is also integrating AI to help businesses create ads on Facebook and Instagram, reminding customers they left an item in their cart or offering a discount for a purchase they’ve been waiting to make. “We believe AI tools can help businesses get people the help they are looking for and find new products and services as well,” WhatsApp has said. WhatsApp has also started to roll out Meta Verified on the WhatsApp Business app in Brazil, Colombia, India and Indonesia, according to the post.
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