Technology

As food ordering machines become a staple in the fast food market, the largely image-based technology remains inaccessible to visually impaired people. To tackle this, McDonald's has applied a voice guidance function to its kiosks across South Korea to help make speedy ordering open to all.

Waymo and Cruise will operate robotaxis in San Francisco. The milestone has been welcomed by those excited by progress in the AV industry. However, many Americans still have concerns about the accuracy and safety of self-driving vehicles, which is likely to generate tensions around the rollout.

Japan is struggling to fill tech roles, despite the untapped talent of female STEM professionals. Underrepresentation in these roles and patriarchal expectations placed on girls from a young age are being challenged by a wider rejection of conventional career paths in the country.

Whole Foods stores in the US will soon allow customers to pay via the Amazon One palm payment system. As biometric payment options gain traction around the globe, this launch sparks questions about the privacy of consumers who want more convenient retail experiences without giving up their safety.

Microsoft was awarded multiple Grand Prix awards at the Cannes Lions Festival for its ADLaM campaign, which digitised the Pulaar language of Guinea. By working with small communities to record their culture, the company demonstrated how new technologies can promote inclusivity.

Samsung has launched a filter that fits any washing machine, helping reduce the amount of microplastics released with every wash. Even though people want to be sustainable, they need eco-options to be the easy choice, so they are looking to outsource sustainable behaviour.

Legible Inc., a book entertainment and media company, is releasing an AI-powered version of George Orwell's Animal Farm. The release demonstrates the AI's role in creating content, introducing classic works to new audiences in more contemporary ways, and boosting interactivity and engagement.

A survey has shown that few people are using AI chatbots, instead relying on established search engines. With the report showing that users are primarily interested in using AI tools to acquire knowledge, there are opportunities for brands to lean into this and leverage AI to serve these needs.

The SAG-AFTRA actors’ union is entering talks over the use of AI ‘digital doubles’, with threats of strike action if a deal can’t be reached. This high-profile industrial action represents a more widespread fear about how AI will affect people’s job security going forward.

In an unprecedented move, General Motors is joining Tesla’s Supercharger network to streamline EV charging in the US. As charging standards become the next battleground for EV players, companies are being tasked with broadening public access to chargers and bolstering their reliability.

Data shows that marketers believe AI holds the key to enhanced customer experiences, with metaverse initiatives now being deprioritised. While the findings demonstrate how the metaverse bubble has popped, it also raises questions about the future of marketing and content creation in regard to AI.

Apple’s Vision Pro attempts to offer mixed reality immersion without sacrificing authentic interactions in the real world. As Gen Zers battle with the paradox of being digitally native, but wanting to switch off, many are wanting tech to complement offline activities rather than replace them.

Snap is rolling out AI features for paid subscribers, with a chatbot that gives generated text or image responses. While Snap already has some guardrails, the app's young user base is experimenting in provocative ways, prompting conversations about monetising emotional connections with AI.

Digitally fluent Gen Zers are searching for more offline connections with loved ones. Many are only on social media to stay in touch with friends and family, so there's an opportunity to foster IRL relationships and activities that help young people embrace digital downtime away from screens.

TikTok is the gold standard when it comes to attention economy algorithms, and now the app is kicking it up a notch by testing an AI chatbot that makes the app even more personalised. As AI proliferates across sectors, the personalised experience it offers could help quell scepticism about the tech.

Research has found that young shoppers are ready for virtual assistants and AI to help make purchasing decisions and in-store shopping more exciting. As brands continue to adjust how they’re leveraging technology, prioritizing its use for personalization in shopping experiences can prove popular.

Tangible is a construction decarbonization tool that allows people and real estate developers to find low-carbon building options. As people seek to align their climate values to their homes, there is an opportunity for brands to bring disruption to the unsustainable construction sector.

A viral trend on TikTok is imagining alternative timelines and realities in which Western colonial nations never came into power. These creators demonstrate how generative AI can support creativity and imagination, inviting a wide audience to critically engage with history in an accessible format.

Samsara Eco has partnered with Lululemon to create the 'first infinitely recycled materials' from fabric waste. While major brands wrestle with their carbon footprint and environmental impact, partnerships with eco-friendly firms can help them rebuild trust among sceptical consumers.

Entertainment company Hybe used voice AI to launch artist Midnatt simultaneously in six languages. While AI in the music industry is leading to concerns around ownership and authenticity, this shows the potential voice synthesis tools have in giving both artists and fans new music experiences.

Rip Curl held a virtual surfing competition using data from wearers of its Search GPS smartwatch. While Australians still have concerns about what brands do with their location data, they could be more likely to give it up if businesses clarify how it will be used and what people stand to gain.

Telly is a start-up giving away free smart TVs, the catch being that they display ads 24/7 – prompting some concerns about data privacy. With concerns around privacy and ad exhaustion becoming the norm, trade-offs like Telly's may be less inviting than they sound.

The telehealth industry in Southeast Asia is increasingly providing more complete end-to-end care for skincare, reproductive health, and general wellness. This is in response to younger generations demanding a more relevant and digital-first service that feels tailored to them.

A survey has found that investors believe AI will revolutionize the industry but will not fully replace humans. With people eager to work with advisors who leverage AI, the findings point to a need to treat AI with caution and leverage it to supplement guidance without eradicating the human element.

As the use of generative AI tools is on the rise, music-streaming platforms are looking to balance new modes of creative expression with copyright concerns. Spotify has responded with the removal of AI-generated music from Boomy, amounting to 7% of all songs created using the service.

Saudi travel company Almosafer is introducing a ChatGPT-powered assistant to help customers plan their holidays. Though AI is shaking up the travel industry thanks to its ability to deliver convenience and personalisation, its application could be limited to simpler enquiries for the time being.

Private Island’s use of Runway’s Gen 2 text-to-video generator to produce an AI US beer advert quickly went viral. Public sentiment towards AI is still mixed, but seeing absurd generative AI creations is one way of allaying any fears about it becoming too sophisticated, at least in the near term.

BeReal provided an antidote to the ultra-curated depiction of people's lives online, but the launch of its RealPeople feed is proving to be divisive. The function offers a curated feed of 'the world's most interesting people', which many are arguing goes against the de-influencing nature of the app.

Scammers are embracing digital culture to trick Gen Zers on social media platforms. Despite being digital natives, Gen Zers are falling prey to online scams, which denotes an opportunity for brands to step up and elevate young adults' media literacy skills while also confronting online fraud.

AI-generated content is gaining traction in the media, with a swarm of click-baiting AI-powered news sites raising concerns about accuracy. As these publications grow, there are challenges to be addressed in maintaining public trust as the lines between reality and fiction continue to blur.

Ghost is an app that helps users maintain anonymity and privacy online. Amid ever-rising anxieties over data privacy, brands have the responsibility to help people regain agency over their personal information by setting guardrails and opt-out options for users to use as they see fit.

With Generative AI blurring reality through deep fakes, voice swaps, and impersonations of popular artists, tech companies are being called on to reduce misinformation. In a bid to retain user trust, Tiktok is developing content labels that signify and set apart AI-generated creations.

Research shows that developments in property market technology – or 'proptech' – have created an imbalance in the US housing market that disproportionally impacts tenants. While tech advances are often welcomed by businesses, there are opportunities to mitigate the negative effects felt by consumers.

A campaign from Red Cross is drawing attention to reality amid debate around AI-generated images. With scepticism around the technology persisting as people struggle to separate reality from fiction, this campaign cuts through the noise and grounds audiences in ongoing international hardships.

Coty has entered the fray of brands racing to enter the metaverse with new products, spaces, and experiences for audiences. However, it's adopting a different approach, demonstrating the versatility of the metaverse as a functional and internal tool rather than a flashy public-facing space.

A study from Snap has revealed a growing optimism towards social shopping. However, though convenience and trust are important drivers when it comes to shopping online, privacy concerns remain and many aren’t comfortable handing over financial or personal data to social platforms.