Google's Monopoly With The Help Of AI

Plus: Hyper-personalization, Meta and Creative Tools Galore

Hey there! Another Tuesday, another week to get yourself up to speed with all things AI…

Why are you reading this?

In this newsletter, I summarize the top AI ecommerce and Amazon developments so you can stay up-to-date in just a few minutes. I do the reading so you don't have to. Consider this your weekly AI ecommerce update to save you time while keeping you informed on what matters most.

TL;DR

  1. Google’s Monopoly With The Help Of AI

  2. The Age Of Hyper-personalization is here

  3. Meta’s Now Rolls Out AI Advertising Suite

  4. Adobe and Canva are all getting an upgrade

Google’s Monopoly With The Help Of AI

A recent interview with Satya Nadella, Microsoft's CEO is definitely worth a read and a think. He expressed concerns that advancements in Artificial Intelligence will further entrench Google's dominance in the search engine market, creating an insurmountable barrier for competitors.

According to Nadella, AI will not provide any advantage to companies aspiring to enter or grow in the web search sector, which he dubbed the "biggest no-fly zone of all." He specifically voiced apprehensions regarding Google's plans to leverage AI in securing exclusive content rights from publishers, which could essentially marginalize other search engines.

This exclusivity could provide Google with a unique, AI-driven search capability that would be unattainable to others, thereby consolidating Google's monopoly. Furthermore, Nadella highlighted the rise of Large Language Models (LLMs) as a concern for publishers, who fear their content might be used for training such models without compensation.

This scenario would also provide a unique advantage to Google given its resources and data access. The integration of AI not only enhances Google's search functionalities but also its market stronghold, by possibly creating a vicious cycle where Google's distribution advantage and access to exclusive data, powered by AI, reinforces its market monopoly. This AI-driven cycle could deter any significant market competition, thereby making Google's dominance in the search engine market more pronounced and unchallengeable.

What does this mean for ecommerce sellers?

Monopoly is never a good thing. And especially when it’s Google and you are the customer, paying extra buck due to big Gs raising ad prices to meet revenue targets.

Analysis: Personalization Will Define Our Generation And AI Will Be The Driver

In the same way that the Industrial Revolution drastically altered physical production, the AI revolution is set to transform digital production. A deep dive into the digital trends that are increasingly impacting Gen Z showcases this shift.

Take TikTok's Bean Soup phenomenon.(Creators share their favorite bean soup recipes). To the average observer, it may seem like a mere meme. Yet, it underscores a broader cultural trend: the "What About Me Effect." The sentiment behind this phenomenon is the growing expectation for experiences to be hyper-personalized. It's a reflection of our times, where content and products must cater to the unique tastes of each individual.

Over the past few decades, American culture has made a noticeable shift from communal values to individualistic ones. The emphasis on individuality is evident everywhere—from literature and media to our very living arrangements. The evolving tech landscape has both influenced and enabled this shift. The rise of direct-to-consumer brands in the 2010s is a prime example, with businesses promising consumers tailored solutions across sectors, from skincare to fashion.

The entertainment domain isn't left untouched either. "Peak TV" is a testament to the hyper-personalization of content. Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok curate content tailored to our preferences. Behind the scenes, companies like Klaviyo empower brands to deliver a more customized marketing experience.

But what's driving this personalization wave? At its core, it boils down to making consumer experiences more convenient, affordable, and enjoyable. Technological advancements, especially in AI, are paving the way for even deeper levels of customization.

Several startups are already capitalizing on the personalization trend, offering tailored solutions across industries. From health to fashion and education, AI's capabilities are set to redefine how products and services are conceived and delivered.

Historically, technological shifts have always played a part in shaping consumer behavior. The Industrial Revolution brought about the era of mass production, enabling an array of consumer choices. With the advent of the internet, this choice extended to niche communities and content. And now, AI stands to amplify personalization even further, crafting unique digital experiences tailored for every individual.

In essence, while the 20th Century was characterized by mass consumption, the 21st Century is shaping up to be the age of "bespoke consumption." It's an era where products and services aren't just for the masses but tailored to individual tastes and preferences. Here is an excellent analysis of the hyper-personalization trend.

What does this mean for ecommerce sellers?

The hyper-personalization of everything isn't just a trend—it will be the new normal. The question is how are you, as an ecommerce seller, going to adapt your services, offering, marketing and everything else to deliver on this. AI can be a massive piece of that puzzle.

Meta’s Rolls Out AI For Advertisers

Meta introduced its first generative AI tools for advertisers, enabling the creation of varied ad backgrounds, image expansions, and multiple ad text versions. The tools are aimed at simplifying asset modifications to suit different product displays like Feed or Reels, akin to Meta's consumer tool, Backdrop, but tailored for ad creation. Initial tests with a select advertiser group showed a potential time-saving of five or more hours per week.

These features are accessible through Meta's Advantage+ catalog, promising significant time savings in ad customization. Future AI features are hinted at, including improved ad copy generation and AI-powered customer interaction on WhatsApp and Messenger.

This development follows Meta's broader agenda of AI integration across its platforms, revealed at the Meta Connect event alongside other products like the Quest 3 mixed-reality headset.

What does this mean for ecommerce sellers?

To be fair, it was just a matter of time. Meta has been AI-ing over everything and so given advertising is still its core business it makes sense to roll out AI suite to help advertisers. My bet is that very soon you won’t need a Paid Social agency to manage your campaigns (this is not the case right now but just give it a year of AI.)

The Quick Read:

  • Action Time: Here is an article that teaches you how to use ChatGPT to build your own scraper. It covers key concepts, techniques, and provides examples along with code snippets for scraping both static and dynamic websites. It may sound a little technical but for anyone who wants to play around with data (and feed it back to GPT), this is gold.

  • Adobe unveils "Project Stardust," an AI-driven photo editing tool, set to be fully revealed at the Adobe Max event on October 10. The tool facilitates effortless repositioning, removal, or manipulation of elements within photos, and employs generative AI for content creation, significantly advancing AI-driven photo editing. This innovation comes amidst a creative tech race alongside recent AI announcements from Canva and Google

  • Canva unveils "Magic Studio" with AI-powered features like "Magic Media," simplifying video production and design workflows, alongside robust security measures through "Canva Shield," and a $200 million "Creator Compensation Program."

If You Missed It:

I had a great convo with Norm last Wednesday about AI and how Amazon sellers can leverage it in order to become better operators. If you missed it, you can watch the replay here.

Today’s Content Spotlight:

I’ve put together a neat little guide to help you use ChatGPT to build your own hypothesis-testing framework for Paid Social. To be fair though, you can probably use it for other channels too.

The Tools List:

ariyh.com - The latest marketing research from top business schools.

Oliolo AI - ChatGPT, PalM2, Claude and Jurassic 3 all in one platform...ready to test

getmacha.com -Resolve Shopify Support Tickets using AI

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