#2404 Nike’s Web3 Sneakers, Snoop Dogg Not Smoke-Free, Palworld’s Controversy, and Cringe AI
Discover cutting-edge tech insights, unexpected industry twists, and intriguing AI revelations in this week's dose of Chaos & Amazement.
Tech news
Nike's new "In-Game Wearables" connect gaming and real life, focusing on experiences. Despite dealing with scammers, Nike's fully into Web3 in the Swoosh community, diving into the NFT world and exploring virtual goods. https://impactlab.com/2024/01/24/nikes-digital-frontier-unveiling-swoosh-and-the-evolution-into-web3/
Insights presented by the Atlantic Council from around 300 experts envisioning 2034. The biggest surprise to me is the growing pessimism among experts regarding the next decade. This pessimism is fueled by factors like the rise of new powers, the decline of multilateral institutions, and the potential for increased global conflict. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-series/atlantic-council-strategy-paper-series/welcome-to-2034-what-the-world-could-look-like-in-ten-years-according-to-nearly-300-experts/
Snoop Dogg's "smoke-free" declaration turned out to be a marketing stunt for Solo Stove, a smokeless fireplace brand. Despite the viral buzz, the collaboration didn't boost sales. A reminder that viral doesn't always mean revenue. https://forbes.com/sites/marcuscollins/2024/01/18/snoop-doggs-smokeless-campaign-questions-the-value-of-going-viral/?sh=defda15c3cd9
This AI wearable by Y-Combinator China's robot startup, Hypershell, is an all-terrain exoskeleton. It's like a second skin for your legs, cranking up your strength, speed, and endurance for the ultimate adventure. https://www.foxnews.com/tech/ai-wearable-contraption-gives-you-superhuman-strength
Fresh Cringe AI
AI-written text signals that may induce cringe in the reader of your text: transformative, foster, tapestry, this is about, think of x as, it’s like, not only..but also. I would like to add: crafting, in conclusion. https://medium.com/practice-in-public/these-words-make-it-obvious-that-your-text-is-written-by-ai-9b04f399d88c
Ashley Beauchamp shared his frustration with DPD's customer service shift to AI, highlighting issues with unhelpful responses, quirky poems, and even swearing. 👀 Twitter thead: https://x.com/ashbeauchamp/status/1748034519104450874
From my blog
NASA's Breakthrough: Inflatable Space Stations Transforming Space Travel
I couldn't help but get excited when I saw this video about the full-scale LIFE™ Inflatable Space Station Burst Test at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
Palworld: A Web3 Game That's Shaking Up the Gaming Industry
I've been looking for Web3 use cases, but that's hard to do if you don't want to talk about gaming. But then Palword started to stir up controversy in social media.
FAUM: The Chess Set That Burns Down After Every Game
Chess sets are usually made to last, but what if they were designed to disappear? That's the idea
[in Dutch, written by Crosscast based on a keynote I presented to their team]: De 8 uitdagingen voor Digital Marketeers in 2024
Weird and Wonderful
Mesmerized by this captivating visualizer showcasing real-time Google search trends in Belgium. A unique way to grasp current interests. Check it out: https://trends.google.com/trends/hottrends/visualize?ncol=5&nrow=5&pn=p41
Kids' reactions to The Smile playing for them are just priceless. It shows how much music can genuinely connect with them without any filters.
Poor Pac-Man, he has finally met his greatest Enemy: The Harvester of Pain and Suffering!
Elle Cordova’s bit about fonts hanging out.
Tiktok failed to load.
Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserFrom Comedian and children’s book author/illustrator Olaf Falafel, what it’s like to live in a house full of women: