This vintage TV campaign from Lone Star Beer reminds me that computer generated images (CGI) have been in use by advertisers for years. It reminds me of popular TV shows from that time. The Dick Van Dyke Show and Bewitched, in particular. It reminds me that making outrageous product claims has a long tradition. For example, "Something wonderful happens when you pour a cold Lone Star." It's just a beer, but a beer …
Medium Separates from the AI Pack
Medium is taking a stand on AI-generated writing. An email from Medium arrived in my inbox a few days ago describing changes that are coming to the publishing platform. Beginning May 1, 2024, stories with AI-generated writing (disclosed as such or not) are not allowed to be paywalled as part of Medium's Partner Program. Accounts that have fully AI-generated writing behind the paywall may have those stories …
140,000 Packaged Goods Under One Academic Roof
Did you know that you can study the science of packaging at Michigan State University in East Lansing? In the fall of 1952, Packaging was created at Michigan State University as an academic discipline in the Department of Forest Products. The Packaging program was science and mathematics based with strong components in business, sociology and psychology. The first Bachelor of Science degree in Packaging was awarded …
Continue Reading about 140,000 Packaged Goods Under One Academic Roof →
AI Is Not the Problem, Lack of Original Thinking Is the Problem
How many times have marketers been told—mostly by other marketers—that the new tech is the best tech? So many times...remember when every brand had to have a home in Second Life? It was an absurd thing to say then, as it is today when the new new thing has to be tested, twisted, and made useful to real people. Nevertheless, promoters gonna promote. And Fast Company is a favorite media vehicle of promoters. For …
Continue Reading about AI Is Not the Problem, Lack of Original Thinking Is the Problem →
Republican Accountability PAC to Invest $50M to Defeat Trump
Is the GOP on the verge of collapse? I doubt it, but there are obvious signs of decay, including the fact that a substantial chunk of Republican primary and caucus voters told pollsters that they would be so dissatisfied if Donald Trump became the party’s presidential nominee—and it looks like he will—that they would not vote for him in November’s general election. In related news, The New York Times is reporting …
Continue Reading about Republican Accountability PAC to Invest $50M to Defeat Trump →
You Don’t Watch The Oscars for the Commercials, But You Could
Traditional advertising showcases are few and far between today, along with opportunities to appeal to a mass audience. Last night's Academy Awards is one. According to Variety, the 2023 Oscars earned an audience of 18.75 million—more than double the most popular shows on TV (NCIS and FBI). The best "commercial" of the evening was "I'm Just Ken,' performed by Ryan Gossling and Mark Ronson, with a guest appearance …
Continue Reading about You Don’t Watch The Oscars for the Commercials, But You Could →
GoDaddy Airo Takes You from Idea to ‘Up and Running’ in Minutes
Coming up with a unique brand name that you can legitimately own and a domain name to go with it, is tough to do. All the good names and dot coms seem to be taken. Starting now, you can ask GoDaddy's AI assistant for help. https://youtu.be/f1hrn30OBQY?si=zvKSyuKdjsCpCfJE In the days of yore, you input a domain name into GoDaddy to see if it was available. Now, you can "prompt" Airo and see a list of results …
Continue Reading about GoDaddy Airo Takes You from Idea to ‘Up and Running’ in Minutes →
Historic Images Made by Robert Capa Repurposed to Promote Peace
Last December, the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London published its annual Armed Conflict Survey. The survey paints a grim picture of rising violence in many regions across the globe, documenting a total of 183 conflicts for 2023, the highest number in three decades. For perspective, there are 195 countries in the world. In response to these escalating conflicts and the lethal threats they …
Continue Reading about Historic Images Made by Robert Capa Repurposed to Promote Peace →
