🤖 This Week in AI, Marketing Edition 🤖

Perplexity launches AI-powered shopping features for Pro users

Perplexity, an AI search engine, just rolled out shopping features that let users buy products directly through their platform.

Why this is important to marketers:

1. This puts Perplexity in the ring with Google and Amazon for shopping searches. New platform, new opportunities for getting your products in front of buyers.

2. Right now, there are no sponsored slots - all recommendations are "unbiased." Keep an eye on this; it probably won't stay this way forever.

3. Their merchant program looks interesting: better chances of getting your products recommended, plus free API access for adding their search to your website.

Google adds memory features to Gemini

Google's Gemini can now remember your preferences and context across conversations, just like ChatGPT.

Why this is important to marketers:

1. When AI remembers your brand voice and guidelines, you won't have to keep explaining the basics every time you start a new project.

2. Memory means better connections between past work and new ideas, which could lead to more interesting marketing campaigns.

3. For teams and agencies, this means less time spent bringing AI up to speed on brand preferences and campaign context.

Coca-Cola's AI-generated holiday ad sparks debate

Coca-Cola just released a holiday commercial they say was fully generated by AI. The response? Let's just say people have opinions.

Why this is important to marketers:

1. A major brand just tested the waters with AI-generated video. It took thousands of tries to get it right, showing both what's possible and what's still tough about the technology.

2. The feedback was split, with many calling it "soulless.”

3. Consider this a sneak peek at what's coming. The tech works, but the human touch in storytelling still matters - a lot.

New AI studio “Promise” launches, backed by a16z

Promise, a new production studio built around AI, just launched with backing from Andreessen Horowitz and The North Road Company.

Why this is important to marketers:

1. The math of content creation is about to change. When making high-quality video gets cheaper, brands of all sizes can play in the content space.

2. Think bigger than ads. What if you could make an entire series about your brand for the price of one traditional commercial?

3. We're moving into what you might call the "post-camera era" - where making good visual content doesn't always mean expensive equipment and huge production crews.

AI moves fast. We make sure marketers don't get left behind.