News/Creator Economy
Taboola launches performance marketing platform Realize to expand beyond native ads
Get wise, it's time you Realize! In AdTech news and a significant shift for digital advertising, Taboola is expanding beyond its native advertising roots with Realize, a performance marketing platform designed to challenge the dominance of search and social media advertising channels. The move comes as advertisers face diminishing returns on social media platforms, with Taboola estimating that $55 billion in performance advertising spending could be delivering better ROI through alternative channels. The big picture: Taboola's new Realize platform aims to capture a share of the $25 billion performance marketing spend currently directed to DSPs and niche AdTech solutions. The...
read Feb 24, 2025YouTube for Android TV adds labels to videos dubbed by AI
New AI dubbing features on YouTube now allow viewers to watch content in their native language by automatically translating audio tracks. The platform has recently added interface indicators to help viewers identify which videos have been AI-dubbed when watching on Android TV and Google TV devices. Key Features and Implementation: YouTube's Android TV interface now displays a "Dubbed" tag with a speaking icon beneath video titles to indicate AI-translated audio content. The tag appears alongside existing indicators like "Subtitles" in a grey text box under the video title, channel name, and view count The feature's visibility varies by region and...
read Feb 23, 2025AI-generated history videos are going viral on TikTok, but how accurate are they?
The AI history phenomenon: TikTok creators are using artificial intelligence to generate first-person perspective videos that simulate waking up in different historical periods, from ancient Rome to the Black Death era, attracting millions of views. Two prominent creators, Dan (POV Lab) and Hogne (Time Traveller POV), produce these videos to make history more engaging and accessible The videos incorporate period-specific visual and audio elements to create immersive historical experiences Some clips have garnered massive attention, with one Black Death-themed video receiving 53 million views Historical accuracy concerns: Professional historians have identified numerous inaccuracies and oversimplifications in these AI-generated historical recreations....
read Feb 23, 2025Meta and X approved hate speech ads before German elections, study finds
In 2025, social media platforms are struggling to balance content moderation with rapid ad approval processes, particularly around elections. A recent investigation by nonprofit Eko tested Meta and X's ad review systems by submitting inflammatory content ahead of German elections, revealing concerning gaps in hate speech detection. Key findings: The investigation revealed major failures in both Meta and X's advertising review processes when dealing with hateful content targeting religious and ethnic groups. Meta approved 50% of test ads containing explicit hate speech and AI-generated inflammatory imagery within 12 hours of submission X (formerly Twitter) scheduled all submitted test ads for...
read Feb 22, 2025Grok 3 is now free for all X users — here’s what’s inside
Elon Musk's xAI has made its latest chatbot, Grok 3, freely available to all X (formerly Twitter) users, marking a significant shift from its initial paid-only access model. The AI chatbot comes equipped with advanced features including DeepSearch and Think modes, positioning it as a direct competitor to established platforms like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Key Features and Functionality: Grok 3 introduces sophisticated capabilities that extend beyond basic chatbot interactions. DeepSearch mode functions as a virtual research assistant, scouring the web to compile detailed reports on user queries The Think mode employs reasoning models to solve complex problems in mathematics,...
read Feb 20, 2025Avalanche of AI content leaves Reddit mods feeling chilly
The rise of AI-generated content has created new challenges for Reddit's volunteer moderators who maintain the quality and authenticity of discussions across thousands of communities. Reddit's unique value stems from its human-generated content and genuine conversations, which are now being tested by an influx of AI-created posts and responses. Current state of moderation: Reddit moderators across various communities are implementing bans and restrictions on AI-generated content to preserve the platform's authenticity and quality. Many subreddits have established strict policies against AI-generated content, viewing such posts as low-effort contributions that diminish the value of human expertise and authentic discussion Moderators face...
read Feb 18, 2025YouTube adds AI video generation to Shorts, expanding creator tools
Take an AI-enabled shot with YouTube's newest Shorts tool. Artificial Intelligence video generation has entered a new phase at YouTube with the integration of Google DeepMind's Veo 2 model into its Shorts platform. The expansion of YouTube's Dream Screen feature and introduction of AI-generated video clips marks a significant shift in how creators can produce content on the platform. Key developments: YouTube has integrated Google DeepMind's Veo 2 video generation model into its Shorts platform, enhancing the platform's AI-powered creative capabilities. The update expands Dream Screen, YouTube's existing AI background generator Users can now create standalone AI-generated video clips from...
read Feb 14, 2025YouTube teases new AI-powered features planned for 2025
The global streaming platform YouTube marks its 20th anniversary while maintaining its dominance in video content sharing, despite competition from platforms like TikTok and Vine. CEO Neal Mohan's recent blog post outlines the platform's evolution and upcoming features for 2025, with artificial intelligence playing a central role in its development strategy. Key AI Innovations: YouTube is expanding its artificial intelligence capabilities beyond basic features like video recommendations and caption generation to include more sophisticated creator tools. New AI tools will help content creators generate video ideas, optimize titles and thumbnails, and streamline their workflows The auto-dubbing feature, which translates videos...
read Feb 13, 2025Telegram launches AI sticker search, new video features
A significant update to Telegram, one of the world's most widely-used messaging apps, introduces AI-powered sticker search and enhanced video playback features in February 2025. This release marks a notable shift in how users can interact with the platform's vast sticker library and video content. Key Features: The latest Telegram update focuses on improving user experience through artificial intelligence and enhanced video functionality. AI-powered sticker search now supports natural language queries in 29 languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, and Hindi Users can search using complex descriptive phrases like "thinking monkey" or "space dog" to find relevant stickers The AI model...
read Feb 13, 2025Reddit posts strong revenue results as data sales take off
The social media platform Reddit, which went public in March 2024, experienced significant traffic disruption in late 2024 due to Google search algorithm changes. This development comes as Reddit continues to expand its revenue streams through AI partnerships and advertising innovations. The traffic impact: Google's algorithm update affected Reddit's visibility in search results, particularly impacting non-logged-in users browsing the platform. Daily active unique visitors grew 39% to 101.7 million in Q4 2024, falling short of analysts' expected 103.3 million The platform's growth rate showed a sequential slowdown CEO Steve Huffman reported that search traffic has started recovering in Q1 2025...
read Feb 12, 2025Scarlett Johansson condemns AI-generated viral video featuring fellow Hollywood celebs
The emergence of AI-generated deepfake videos has become a significant concern for celebrities and public figures, particularly when these videos are used to make political statements without consent. Recently, an unauthorized AI-generated video featuring fabricated versions of multiple Hollywood celebrities protesting against Kanye West's antisemitic statements has sparked controversy and raised important questions about AI regulation. Initial incident and response: A viral AI-generated video depicted several celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson, Jack Black, and Steven Spielberg, wearing protest shirts and making statements against antisemitism. The video showed AI versions of celebrities wearing t-shirts featuring the Star of David inside a hand...
read Feb 12, 2025The billion-dollar AI company no one seems to be noticing right now
The rise of artificial intelligence has created unexpected opportunities for companies with large datasets of human interactions, with Reddit emerging as a significant beneficiary through its massive repository of online conversations. Reddit's transformation from a user-generated content platform to an AI data powerhouse exemplifies how existing digital companies can find new revenue streams in the AI economy. The financial transformation: Reddit achieved its first profitable quarter in Q3 2024, marking a historic shift in the company's business model through strategic AI partnerships. Revenue grew 68% year-over-year to $348.4 million, with $29.9 million in net income The company's stock price has...
read Feb 11, 2025BuzzFeed builds new platform to fight back against AI-driven social media
BuzzFeed is developing a new social media platform that aims to counter the addictive, AI-driven algorithms used by major social networks like Meta and TikTok. The initiative comes as BuzzFeed seeks to create what it describes as a more positive online environment focused on creativity and genuine connection rather than engagement-driven content. The core concept: BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti envisions a platform that will serve as an "oasis from algorithm-driven doomscrolling" by prioritizing user agency and joyful experiences. The platform aims to facilitate playful creative expression and meaningful connections between users BuzzFeed plans to use AI technology differently from competitors,...
read Feb 11, 2025Google developing AI to detect user age on YouTube in effort to fend off predators, exposure to inappropriate content
YouTube is implementing machine learning to verify user ages, addressing concerns about child safety and content access on the platform. This new system, announced as part of YouTube's 2025 initiatives, will analyze user behavior patterns to determine whether viewers are children or adults, regardless of the age they claim to be. The current challenge: YouTube faces ongoing issues with users misrepresenting their age, either to access restricted content or to influence the platform's algorithm, while also dealing with concerns about child predators and inappropriate content exposure. The platform has previously encountered scandals involving its algorithm pushing questionable material to users...
read Feb 11, 2025Musk’s OpenAI bid rebuffed as Altman winks at Twitter/X counter-deal
The battle for control of OpenAI has intensified as Elon Musk leads a consortium of investors attempting to acquire the nonprofit organization that oversees OpenAI. The unsolicited $97.4 billion bid comes at a crucial time when OpenAI is transitioning from a nonprofit to a for-profit structure under Sam Altman's leadership. The takeover bid: Elon Musk's attorney Marc Toberoff submitted a $97.4 billion offer to OpenAI's board of directors, expressing willingness to outbid any competing offers. Musk stated his intention to return OpenAI to its roots as an "open-source, safety-focused force for good" The bid adds complexity to Sam Altman's plans...
read Feb 7, 2025Snap targets small businesses with new AI advertising tool
Snap is launching a new AI-powered advertising tool aimed at small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), marking its entry into AI-driven advertising solutions following similar moves by major tech platforms. Market performance and strategic focus: Snap's focus on SMBs has yielded significant results, with the company reporting strong financial performance in 2024. The company achieved revenue of $1.56 billion in Q4 2024 and $5.36 billion for the full year SMBs were identified as the largest contributor to ad revenue growth in 2024 CEO Evan Spiegel highlighted SMBs as a key focus area during the company's latest earnings call New product rollout:...
read Feb 6, 2025Personalized gifts market set to reach $10.76B by 2029
A new market analysis shows the global personalized gifts industry is poised for substantial growth, with projections indicating a USD 10.76 billion market expansion from 2025-2029. Market dynamics: The personalized gifts sector is experiencing significant growth driven by multiple factors, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% expected through 2029. Consumer preferences are shifting toward eco-friendly and handcrafted items, creating new opportunities for market expansion The rise in smartphone usage and digital platforms has enabled easier access to personalized gift options Seasonal demand fluctuations present ongoing challenges for market players and inventory management Industry leaders and product categories: Major...
read Feb 5, 2025Meta enhances transparency with new labeling requirements for AI-generated ads
Meta's new AI advertising transparency initiative introduces expanded labeling for ads created or modified using its generative AI tools, marking a significant step in digital advertising disclosure practices. Key system features: Meta's new labeling approach varies based on the extent of AI involvement in ad creation and modification. Labels will appear either in an ad's three-dot menu or directly next to the "Sponsored" tag The system specifically targets advertisements featuring AI-modified images and videos Different labeling requirements apply based on the degree of AI-driven modifications Implementation framework: Meta has established clear guidelines for when and how AI disclosure labels should...
read Feb 4, 2025YouTube ad sales hit record $10.5B as Alphabet plans $75B AI investment
YouTube's Q4 2024 advertising revenue hit a record $10.473 billion, marking a 13.8% increase year-over-year, as parent company Alphabet outlined ambitious AI investments for 2025. Key financial highlights: The video streaming giant's performance exceeded analyst expectations and represented just one segment of YouTube's expanding business portfolio. YouTube's total revenue surpassed $50 billion for the 12-month period ending September 2024 Full-year advertising revenue reached $36.15 billion Parent company Alphabet reported Q4 revenue of $96.47 billion and net income of $26.54 billion Strategic AI investments: Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai announced plans for significant capital expenditure to maintain competitiveness in artificial intelligence development....
read Feb 4, 2025ByteDance’s new ‘OmniHuman’ AI tools turns single user photos into full-body videos
ByteDance researchers have created OmniHuman, an AI system that can generate realistic full-body videos of people speaking, gesturing, and moving naturally from a single photograph, marking a significant advancement in AI-generated media. Key innovation: The OmniHuman system represents a breakthrough in AI video generation by producing complete body animations that synchronize with speech and natural movements, moving beyond the limitations of previous systems that could only animate faces or upper bodies. The system utilizes an "omni-conditions" training approach that combines text, audio, and body movement inputs Researchers trained the AI on more than 18,700 hours of human video data The...
read Feb 2, 2025Shutterstock-Lightricks partnership offers example of how to ethically source training data for AI video
Shutterstock's innovative "research license" model with Lightricks marks a significant shift in how AI companies can legally and ethically access training data, potentially making high-quality datasets more accessible to startups and smaller developers. The groundbreaking partnership: Shutterstock and AI creative technology company Lightricks have established a new licensing framework that allows AI companies to access training data through a graduated approach. Lightricks will train its open-source video generation model LTXV using Shutterstock's HD and 4K video library The model enables companies to begin with a smaller research license for testing before upgrading to commercial licenses This approach directly addresses the...
read Feb 1, 2025How this YouTuber is poisoning the web scrapers stealing her content
YouTube creator F4mi has developed an innovative method to prevent AI-powered content scrapers from stealing and repurposing her video transcripts by embedding invisible, confounding text in subtitle files. Key innovation: F4mi leverages the Advanced SubStation Alpha (.ass) subtitle format to hide garbage data that disrupts AI summarization tools while remaining invisible to human viewers. The .ass format supports advanced features like custom positioning, fonts, colors, and text formatting Hidden text includes modified public domain works and AI-generated scripts containing fabricated information When AI summarizers process these transcripts, the invisible junk text overwhelms the actual content Technical implementation: The anti-scraping system...
read Jan 20, 2025Perplexity AI bids to merge with TikTok’s US operations
ByteDance-owned TikTok faces a potential merger with Perplexity AI following a Supreme Court decision to uphold the platform's ban in the United States. Key developments: Perplexity AI, a search engine platform, has submitted a bid to merge with TikTok's U.S. operations, as the social media giant confronts mounting pressure from regulatory authorities. The proposed deal would combine Perplexity, TikTok U.S., and new capital partners Initial bids for the company are expected to start above $50 billion The merger would provide Perplexity with access to TikTok's vast video content library to enhance its AI-generated responses Regulatory context: The Supreme Court's Friday...
read Jan 18, 2025Perplexity AI makes bid to merge with TikTok US
Perplexity AI, a rapidly growing artificial intelligence search engine startup, has submitted a merger proposal to ByteDance aimed at combining Perplexity with TikTok's U.S. operations. Key details of the proposal: Perplexity AI's bid envisions creating a new merged entity that would combine Perplexity, TikTok U.S., and new capital partners, while allowing ByteDance's existing investors to maintain their equity positions. The proposed deal structure is specifically designed as a merger rather than a sale, which Perplexity believes could make it more appealing to ByteDance Sources familiar with the matter suggest the deal could be valued at "well north of $50 billion"...
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