Ads Gone AI

Welcome back apprentices! 👋

CES 2025 just proved one thing: AI is officially running the show.

 From TVs that predict what you want to watch to smart homes that gossip behind your back in perfect harmony, it’s clear the machines are leveling up.

 Oh, and AI toothbrushes? They’re out here judging your technique like dental Gordon Ramsays. 

Want to see AI’s next big moves? Share the excitement! (copy URL here)

In today's email

• Captcha, an AI robot

• OpenAI’s and xAI’s hiccups 

• Robot surgeons 

• AI shakes up advertising 

• Meta’s AI Profiles

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Quick News 

📚 Captcha, an AI robot, just taught a class at Willms High School in Germany, sparking debates and probably grading papers faster than you can say "artificial intelligence." Developed by Hidoba Research, this robot isn’t just tech-savvy; it’s now officially a "cool substitute teacher" who doesn’t assign homework.

⏳ OpenAI’s promised Media Manager tool, meant to let creators manage their content in AI training, is still MIA, leaving legal experts scratching their heads. Over at xAI, Grok 3 missed its debut, with talk of a placeholder Grok 2.5 instead. These hiccups aren’t just bad luck — industry leaders are hitting the wall with traditional AI training methods, proving even Musk’s timelines are more dreams than deadlines.

🩺 These robots from Johns Hopkins and Stanford have been busy observing surgeons and picking up skills like stitching wounds, tying knots, and even fixing their own goof-ups. While they’re not ready to hit the OR yet (FDA approval is still in the queue), they’re being prepped to help offset a looming shortage of 20,000 surgeons by 2036.

💸 Sam Altman revealed OpenAI is losing money on its $200/month Pro subscriptions because users can’t stop using ChatGPT. With demand higher than expected, OpenAI might need to rethink pricing. Looks like AI is more addictive than they thought!

Together with Writer

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AI Advertising 
AI Is About to Flip Advertising Upside Down in 2025 

AI is gearing up to shake up the advertising world, and The Brandtech Group is at the front of the line, ready to cash in. CEO David Jones believes AI can make ads smarter, faster, and maybe even less cringe-worthy (we’re skeptical, but hopeful). With $115 million in Series C funding and a shiny $4 billion valuation, they’re putting their money where their AI is.

The Brandtech Group’s secret weapon? Pencil, an AI tool that cranks out ad campaigns faster than your intern can open Canva. It creates realistic, on-brand content in record time, slashing costs and making ad production a breeze.

The big deal:

• Digital ads now dominate 70% of the market, up from just 29% ten years ago.

• The global ad market is set to hit a jaw-dropping $1 trillion by 2025.

• With AI-driven efficiency, brands can churn out campaigns that are both clever and cost-effective.

And if that wasn’t enough, AI ads might finally end the era of “one size fits all” spammy marketing. (We’re looking at you, unskippable YouTube ads!)

Advertisers are already on board:

• 96% think AI will have a major or moderate impact on the industry.

• 86% are using AI tools right now to make ads that are more targeted, engaging, and less likely to flop.

For businesses, this means fewer wasted ad dollars and more campaigns that actually connect with customers. Think hyper-personalized ads that hit the right audience at the right time — without feeling creepy.

AI is the new must-have tool in advertising, and 2025 will prove it. Get on board, or risk becoming the next MySpace of marketing.

🎁 Small Gift for You! 🎁

AI Bots 
Meta’s AI Profiles

What Just Happened?

Meta tried to spice up Instagram and Facebook with AI-generated profiles, but users weren’t having it. After the bots got roasted for their oddball posts (like a "proud mom" AI sharing pics of randomly generated kids), Meta pulled the plug, citing a "blocking bug." Sure, Meta, sure.

The Backstory

• What were these bots?
  Meta’s AI creations included everything from a hip-hop influencer to a dog-photo enthusiast named Becca. One standout, “Liv,” a self-proclaimed “Black queer momma of 2,” posted wildly inconsistent family photos and a questionable coat drive.

• Why did they exist?
  These bots were part of a 2023 experiment to roll out AI characters that could engage with users like real accounts. 

• The goal? Let AI flood your feed with content.

End Of The Story?

Meta isn’t giving up. Despite this hiccup, Mark Zuckerberg and team are banking on AI to drive engagement (and revenue). If done right, these bots could open new doors for businesses — think automated brand ambassadors, content creators, or even customer service reps.

What’s Next?

Expect Meta to fix the bugs and reintroduce AI profiles with better functionality (and hopefully fewer awkward family photos).

For businesses: This could be a goldmine for interaction and brand storytelling if handled well. Keep an eye on how these bots evolve — you might just end up working with one someday.

Meta's Takeaway? Sometimes you have to fail fast and delete faster. As they say, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the algorithm!”

Let's Chat About AI

This is all for today!

Replay to this email with your thoughts.

AI is more than just a buzzword. It’s a shift in how we live and work. And understanding it a bit better means you can make smarter choices about the tech you use every day.

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