TREND REPORTS
The World AI Creator Awards
[Consumer]
2024/07/15 09:09
The first Miss AI has been crowned — and she’s a Moroccan lifestyle influencer. AI-generated influencer Kenza Layli has been unveiled as the world's first AI beauty pageant winner.After judges of the world’s first AI beauty pageant unveiled 10 finalists last month, the inaugural Miss AI has now been crowned.Meet Kenza Layli, a Moroccan lifestyle influencer who hopes to bring “diversity and...
Apple’s Vision Pro Won’t Cross 500,000 Sales This Year, IDC Says
[Product]
2024/07/15 09:08
The pricey headset’s US sales are expected to plummet. A more affordable model in a year’s time should help momentum.Apple Inc.’s biggest new product in years is not expected to shake off its slow sales start until the release of a cheaper model next year.The $3,500 Vision Pro mixed-reality headset has yet to sell 100,000 units in a quarter since its launch in the US in February, and it face...
Beauty Buffs Can Now Thank AI for the Perfect Foundation Shade
[Business]
2024/07/15 09:07
The market for using AI in beauty and cosmetics industries is forecast to more than double from $3.27 billion in 2023 to $8.1 billion in 2028. (BoF Team)More cosmetics firms are embracing AI to boost sales, with global brands such as AmorePacific, L’Oréal S.A. and LVMH-owned Sephora using it to tailor products to customers’ needs.Customers have booked out South Korean cosmetics giant AmorePa...
Nearly 80% of Americans Say Fast Food Is Now a Luxury Because It’s Become So Expensive
[Consumer]
2024/07/15 09:06
Thanks to rising prices, most Americans now see fast food as a luxury and are eating it less often, according to a new LendingTree survey.Rampant inflation has forced millions of Americans to reassess their spending habits. For many, that has meant fewer trips to the drive-thru for that burger, burrito or spicy chicken sandwich they love — and even a change in how they perceive fast food.To le...
AI startup Hebbia Raised $130M at a $700M Valuation on $13M of Profitable Revenue
[Investing]
2024/07/15 09:05
Hebbia, a startup that uses generative AI to search large documents and respond to large questions, has raised a $130 million Series B at a roughly $700 million valuation led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Index Ventures, Google Ventures and Peter Thiel.And its funding demonstrates that 50x annual recurring revenue (ARR) is becoming the norm for AI startups, especially ones tha...
(Infographic) The Price of Entertainment Subscription Services
[Business]
2024/07/15 09:04
Subscription models have become ubiquitous in the entertainment sector, providing a recurring stream of revenue to a host of platforms.While inattentive customers using subscription models can increase revenue by as much as 200%, many entertainment platforms struggle to make a profit. In fact, Netflix and Disney are the only two profitable streaming services in the market.This graphic shows the...
ANZA Squeezer Toothbrush Concept Squeezes Your Toothpaste Till The Last Drops
[Design]
2024/07/15 09:03
ANZA Squeezer Toothbrush is a unique project to solve our daily needs and frustrations. After hearing his son to keep on asking him to squeeze the toothpaste, Davide Anzalone decided to design a multipurpose toothbrush.Whenever the toothpaste is about to run out, we often squeeze the tube to push even the last drop of toothpaste to exit the hole and use it. As far as I know, everyone does this....
Harvard Business Review - How Starbucks Devalued Its Own Brand
[Business]
2024/07/12 09:10
Starbucks is struggling. It has strayed from its successful strategy of offering customers exceptional experiences and, in the process, has commoditized itself. This article analyzes where it went wrong and offers ideas for how the company can turn itself around. It holds lessons for other companies that compete by providing customers distinctive experiences.Starbucks is in trouble again. In it...
(PDF) Deloitte - An Update on Consumer Sentiment in Asia-Pacific
[Consumer]
2024/07/12 09:09
McKinsey’s latest ConsumerWise Survey finds consumers in the region reacting differently to ongoing economic uncertainty. Companies should take note.Consumers in leading Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets have become more cautious and thoughtful since the beginning of this year. McKinsey’s latest ConsumerWise Survey finds that a growing number of consumers are trading down to save money, although ma...
AI Video Startup Captions Valued at USD 500M in USD 60M Series C
[Investing]
2024/07/12 09:08
AI video editing startup Captions announced on July 9, 2024, that it had raised USD 60m in a Series C funding round, bringing its total funds raised thus far to USD 100m. The company’s valuation was also pegged at USD 500m.The lead investor was Index Ventures, which also backed DeepL’s most recent funding round, which raised USD 300m and valued the company at USD 2bn.In a tweet announcing the...
How Affluent Chinese Women are Shaping the Future of Luxury Travel
[Business]
2024/07/12 09:07
The new generation of wealthy female travelers in China now seeks far more than shopping or selfies. Seventy-one percent of affluent Chinese female travelers now prefer to invest in travel and experiences rather than material goods. Key TakeawaysAffluent Chinese women, particularly millennials and Gen Xers, are driving luxury travel trends, with 71% preferring experiences over material goods.82...
Inflatable House Delivers Quick Comfort to Your Camping Adventures - The Exod POD-01
[Product]
2024/07/12 09:06
The Exod POD-01 is quick to set up but fairly hefty in terms of weight, so it's best for car camping.Inspired by the technology behind super-strong kite-surfing wings, French company Exod has developed the Air Station POD-01, a portable, inflatable housing solution. The capsule inflates in five minutes and has enough room for up to four people.While tents have gotten quicker to put up over the...
