NVIDIA’s Autonomous Co-Players Advance Agentic Entertainment

In an evolutionary step for agentic entertainment (in which AI-powered agents contribute to game play – see Agentic Entertainment: Responsive & Adaptive Gaming Companions in Life in AI: Culture, Creativity & Entertainment), US tech company NVIDIA announced the launch of its AI-powered co-player game characters, catering to the vast majority (99%) of US gamers who believe that AI non-player characters (NPCs) will positively impact gameplay (Inworld, 2024).

Peacock x Madden Gamify Sportstainment

Noting the overlap between TV (streaming) sports viewers and sports video gamers (see Key Stats), Monica Dinsmore, senior director of esports for US game developer Electronic Arts (EA), zeroed in on the vast brand opportunity within (entertainment revolving around sports - see Sportstainment: The Future of Sports Fan Experiences) for sports clubs, broadcasters and retailers.

Hey.D’s Generative AI Avatar-Populated Metaverse

Continuing the conversation regarding the use of synth beings not only in gaming but also on social media (see Human-AI Social Media & Parasocial Bots in Life in AI: Culture, Creativity & Entertainment), South Korean metaverse and avatar specialists Nation A won a CES Innovation Award in the metaverse category for its avatar-populated metaverse.

Pinterest’s AI Supercharges Intuitive Visual Search

Keying into the fast-developing sphere of intuitive ecommerce search backed by cutting-edge generative AI, Pinterest’s chief technology officer Matt Madrigal detailed how the platform is “giving people the words” to find the products they want by fusing generative AI and visual search.

Blizzard Entertainment Feeds Gaming into IRL Tentpole Marketing

Monica Austin, chief marketing officer of American gaming behemoth Blizzard Entertainment, suggested how gaming brands could activate around pop-cultural tentpole or calendar moments (like Halloween, Valentine’s or the Super Bowl) by allowing players to expand gameplay into IRL moments and spaces.

Coachtopia’s Automated Resales Power Up Circularity

Todd Kahn, CEO of American luxury fashion brand Coach explained how its resale-enabling digital product passports (DPPs) are driving a new level of circularity for its Gen Z-centric sustainable sub-brand Coachtopia.

Samsung x Ashley Envision Smart Home Routines

Evolving its bid to contextualise its smart home products in order to win over confused or unenthused consumers (see In-Situ Selling in Out of the Box: Top Tactics for Selling Tech), Samsung’s expo floor presentation demonstrated its partnership with American home furnishings retailer Ashley, where Samsung products feature within Ashley in-store room sets.