26 April 2023

Hi folks,

To infinity… and beyond? Well, just Earth for now. Our hopes of vacationing on the moon will have to wait a bit longer after the unsuccessful launch of the SpaceX rocket last week. Can anyone reach out to E.T. for tips?

Scroll down to read about leftovers, Lacoste, and Latin America. 

Stats to power your week

🥊 Ahead of this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, girls’ sport is in good shape – the number playing football/soccer is up 20% since 2021. It’s not the fastest-growing over that time though – that honor goes to martial arts, which could be down to awareness of self-defense, personal empowerment, strong female role models in the sport, or all of the above. (GWI Kids)

🏠 What social cause do most Americans say is important to them? Reducing domestic violence. Often a hidden issue, there’s more of a consensus and urgency to address the issue than you might think. (GWI USA Plus)

🌴 Earth Day took place last week, but which country is most interested in environmental issues? There’s a strong showing across all of Latin America but it’s Colombia that ranks 1st. Almost half of Colombians are interested in environmental issues – little wonder when deforestation is so high on the agenda. (GWI Core)

🧑‍💼 More Americans want to do something they’re passionate about. Since 2020, the number looking to start a business in the next six months has grown by 29%, and interest in entrepreneurship has grown by 12% in the same time frame. This has become even easier with AI suggesting ways to make money. We could see the next Jeff Bezos very soon… (GWI USA)

📞 Are Gen Z so afflicted by anxiety they’ve given up phone calls in favor of voice notes? Not quite. 17% in the US/UK send a voice note at least daily, but many more (38%) are still beeping someone the old-fashioned way. (GWI Custom)

What’s on our radar

Google plans to introduce generative AI into its ad business, letting buyers develop sophisticated campaigns from natural language prompts.

Google is aso trialing AI-generated 360 degree previews of products, making 3D assets more accessible to merchants than ever.  

Generative AI was also a hot topic in last week’s HIMSS health conference. Use cases in healthcare are growing, with Regard launching a product that enables doctors to automate routine tasks. 

Both Zalando and YesPlz AI have launched ChatGPT-powered virtual stylists. AI as your personal shopper is a fascinating use case and well worth watching. Move over, Law Roach.

Apple is trialing a health-led journaling app. This comes at an intriguing time as we’re seeing a broader diary-keeping trend gain momentum – the number of girls in the US keeping a diary is up 23% since 2021, something stationers are loving. 

2022’s biggest song was released in 1985 (Stranger Things have happened) and cassette sales are at their highest level since 2003, so it’s little wonder BMG has become the first music company to start treating its catalog and new releases the same way. 

Last week we talked about Drake’s reservations with AI music, but musician and tech advocate Grimes is offering to split royalties on AI generations that use her voice. 

Meanwhile AIsis, an AI reimagining of the Gallagher brothers, became the latest viral creation. Is this the closest we’ll get to an Oasis reunion? Maybe… 

This week also saw a German magazine print an AI-generated interview with Michael Schumacher, a highly controversial move. It’s unlikely to be the only time the ethics of the technology are scrutinized. 

Too Good To Go, an app offering discounted food near closing times to reduce waste, is having a moment right now. Dibs on the Starbucks brownies.

As we predicted in Connecting the dots last year, quiet luxury is in, with Bottega Veneta leaning into the trend in its latest short film, and Brunello Cucinelli posting good results. Any Bridgerton fans here? Lacoste and Netflix’s partnership will let you cosplay as the Duke of Hastings on the tennis court.  

Chart of the week

Eurovision kicks off in 2 weeks, and Loreen is the bookmaker’s favorite to pick up her second title representing Sweden. We’re not surprised – remember when “Euphoria” hit the charts? 

Ahead of pretty much any competition, when you ask people who’ll win they almost always pick their own country. But with this year’s Eurovision, the UK is a notable exception. It could be down to public sympathy to the Ukrainian cause, or maybe coming last 5 times in 20 years is just too much to bear. 

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