22 March 2023

Hi folks,

GPT-4's given us a quantum leap forward in AI technology. You could use it for practically anything, like unpicking the shade Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber are throwing at each other. What a time to be alive.

Scroll down to read about robots in Paris Fashion Week, concerns over TikTok, and lunar love. 

Stats to power your week

💸 Play, like, subscribe, donate. Most of us know the game when it comes to supporting content creators. But what you (or they) might not know is the untapped opportunity in merch. Consumers would rather support creators through one-off purchases than subscriptions or virtual tips. Whether it’s a branded mug, or skincare and cosmetic lines, followers want something physical to get their hands on. (GWI Zeitgeist)

🤳 TikTok has been banned on government phones in the UK, leading many to wonder what the next legislative step will be. Going further might end up triggering a Gen Z revolt – the short-form video platform (42%) is now only just behind Instagram (46%) as the app they check most during the day. (GWI Core)

🌍 The “think global, buy local” mindset has really taken shape over the past few years, and our latest research confirms food is where consumers most prefer the local option. Italians are most likely to say they prefer local foods (73%) – so maybe keep that carbonara variation to yourself. (GWI Zeitgeist)

📺 While we can’t agree on the best show on Paramount+, engagement with the service has jumped massively in the US, with a 55% increase in Americans using it since this time last year. To top that off, they’re now introducing mobile-only plans in Brazil and Mexico. “Undercover Boss” on the go? Don’t mind if we do. (GWI USA) 

🏠 US home renovators are 33% more likely to use Pinterest than the average American. They’re an older audience than your typical social media users, but the platform looks to be taking its place alongside magazines, stores, and consultants as a source of domestic inspiration. (GWI USA)

What’s on our radar

An especially exciting week for AI with the launch of GPT-4 and Midjourney V5 (now with realistic hands!). Some of the most interesting use cases we’ve seen? Using ChatGPT to strike it rich, writing an entire book, and this example of how far we’ve come in just a year. 

But artists aren’t going down without a fight. There’s more than one group of live players in this game. 

Meanwhile, General Motors is looking to put ChatGPT in vehicles, and LinkedIn has implemented an AI feature to create profile summaries and job listings. Wonder if it works for killswitch engineers.  

The Writers Guild of America is considering strike action. Historically these strikes can have profound (if unexpected) side effects – the last one in 2007 helped kickstart the reality TV boom, so you can probably thank them for your “Real Housewives” and “Below Deck” obsession. 

Microsoft’s AI-powered Bing is making waves in the browser wars, to which we could be adding a new contender: Amazon. 

News just in: Roblox will ban ads aimed at under-13s. 

AI has been taken to the next level with MAVE - a virtual K-pop band, racking up millions of streams and views. Bet Simon Cowell’s quaking in his Cuban heels.

Heads are turning from the metaverse to AI, but Metaverse Fashion Week offered a glimpse into some of the virtual reality initiatives in the pipeline. 

Back in physical fashion, Coperni made its mark at Paris Fashion Week by using robots on the runway. Robots for spring? Groundbreaking.

TikTok users are looking at “moon phases” to find a soulmate, a good example of the astrology trend in action. And those soulmates could be coming more from within friendship groups. 

For those rocking long-distance relationships, a remote kissing device has been manufactured in China. Pucker up, people. 💋

In a Mark’s retail store in Canada, robots are moving from the checkout to stacking the shelves. 

Recommerce is on the up. Popular retailer H&M has joined forces with ThredUP to launch a resale service.

The no-makeup look has taken the world (and social media) by storm recently. Lady Gaga is the latest advocate of this natural look, as seen at the Oscars.

Chart of the week

We’re used to the concept of the nostalgia circuit – when artists in their prime years go on tour, followed by fans who’ve grown old with them.

Or are we? Younger listeners are actually the most nostalgic. Helped by “Running Up That Hill” last year, there’s been a wave of interest in legacy acts. But you could go back even further, to when Fleetwood Mac became every millennial’s favorite band. 

The infinite catalog of music streaming has helped connect younger generations with bands of their parents’ generation. 

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