| | What we're reading
“Not your mom’s Facebook”
Axios reports on a Facebook event for young creators hosted in New York which detailed how it remains relevant for Gen Z.
Leaflets were handed out which included the line, "We are not your mom's Facebook".
Read the Axios article for more on how Facebook has increased usage amongst younger users of late, including social discovery (such as shoppable goods, dating and events instead of news), Facebook Reels being shared via private messaging, and a professional mode for creators.
The ‘egg theory’ of AI agents
Rex Woodbury in his excellent Digital Native newsletter reminds us that instant cake mix sold better when the consumer had to add an egg.
“It turns out: there’s such a thing as too easy,” he writes. This egg theory extends to AI agents according to Woodbury. People need ‘at least the illusion of control’ – such as choosing between multiple options that the AI has surfaced. Otherwise, we may be left wondering, “Did the bot book the right flight?”
Those who work in UX already see similar dynamics at play, such as comparison engines being designed to take a set amount of time to return results, in order that they feel well considered. Cunning stuff.
Related: Are we entering the age of the AI copilot?
Netflix tests homepage redesign
Users may rejoice at not having to scroll quite so quickly across tiles as hovering will now play a preview in the tiles themselves, rather than in the main hero banner.
Hovering will also display helpful information about the title below the tile, such as number of episodes. Other big changes include no more left-hand side menu, with a slimmed down version visible at top of page.
More from the Verge.
Warning that supermarket loyalty “challenges” may encourage overspending
Supermarkets that offer loyalty members bonus points for hitting spending targets could encourage people to spend more than they can afford, according to Which? and debt charity StepChange in a warning about personalised loyalty “challenges”.
With food prices and inflation still a concern, loyalty programmes are a key battleground for the big supermarkets.
A Tesco spokesperson told the BBC that its Clubcard Challenges were "all about rewarding customers for buying the products they regularly purchase".
Related: A few weeks back you may remember we spoke to EagleAI, a firm partnering with Tesco that specialises in personalised loyalty.
Waitrose acquires Dishpatch
Waitrose has acquired the meal-kit delivery service Dishpatch, which collaborates with some famous UK chefs.
The press release says the purchase “aligns with our ambition to be the trusted home for food lovers.”
Earlier this month, Sainsbury’s expanded its partnership with SimplyCook and added Gousto to its recipe kit offering. These kits are available in the aisles – might we see a similar approach from Waitrose?
Gousto has in the past been described as a “data business that loves food” – a descriptor that looks more and more apt for supermarkets, as they bolster their position as first-party data providers.
Related: How FMCGs are adapting to retail media
How AI chatbots responded to basic questions about the 2024 European elections right before the vote
The Reuters Institute tests how three chatbots reacted to questions about the EU vote in France, Germany, Italy and Spain, and found some examples of incorrect and partially correct responses.
The article shows the scale of the issue for the big tech companies. However, as the authors point out, usage for news is low, and “While we need a better, systematic understanding, on a representative scale, of how well these systems perform… it is worth remembering that they are just one piece in the larger puzzle of how people stay informed and make sense of the world.”
Sticking with Reuters Institute – see their piece on how Norway’s public broadcaster uses AI-generated summaries to reach younger audiences
Related: How should search marketers respond to Google AI overviews? |
Generative AI has brought into focus what makes a great marketer
“The more we have smart automation doing some of the job, the more important it is that we are critical thinkers,” says Econsultancy SVP Learning, Stefan Tornquist. |
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| Effective Leadership in the Digital Age
This report draws on Econsultancy’s years of research into how leadership is changing in a digital world and offers useful insights and practical models for navigating the evolving landscape. |
The Future of Marketing: The AI Opportunity
Throughout this year’s Future of Marketing survey, AI was a consistent theme. As one respondent put it, “There is excitement and also anxiety…”
But precisely how many marketers are using generative AI, and where do they believe its value lies? |
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The Marketing Capability Leaders Forum, May 16th
Waterloo, London, 9am GMT
At Econsultancy HQ, we’ll be hosting our Q2 meet-up for senior leaders in marketing and ecommerce. You’ll hear from a panel of marketing leaders as they reveal how they have navigated transformation, placing capability at the heart of their strategies.
Please note, the forum is invite-only, so registrations are subject to approval. |
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| Econsultancy Pulse is a round up of the latest action in the world of marketing and ecommerce. |
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