#102- Sight and Sound

Video is reshaping the podcast landscape. Spotify's latest fan study reveals a clear shift towards visual content in the podcasting world. With over 250,000 video shows now on the platform, the numbers indicate a clear trend. Video podcasts are attracting more listeners and keep them engaged for longer. In fact, 67% of Spotify users switch between watching and listening throughout their day. Young listeners, aged 13-17, are especially drawn to video. When they play video podcasts, they keep the video visible more than half the time. Even smaller shows see a 26% boost in listener retention after adding video.

Spotify's push for video appears to be a strategic response to YouTube's growing dominance in podcast consumption. The company's VP of Product, Maya Prohovik , emphasizes that adding video helps podcasters find audiences faster. This insight sends a clear message to creators: embracing video could be crucial for growth on the platform.

AI

OpenAI has raised $6.6 billion in what's called the "largest VC deal of all time," reaching a $157 billion valuation. However, the company is projected to lose $5 billion this year , raising questions about investor expectations for profitability.

Meanwhile OpenAI launched a realtime API of their speech-to-speech model to developers worldwide, essentially positioning themselves as a real time behind-the-scenes conversational engine, powering AI features in apps ranging from language learning to sports coaching.

Other AI updates:

• Microsoft's Copilot gets voice and vision capabilities in its consumer version. Link & Link
• A new tiny open-source AI model performs as well as powerful big ones. Link
• OpenAI introduces Canvas, a new ChatGPT feature that functions as a word-processor. Link
• Reddit brings AI-powered automatic translation to dozens of new countries. Link
• The Neuron offers a database of top AI tools that are actually working. Link
• And Google is rolling out ads in AI Overviews. Link

+ Azeem Azhar believes that the current ecosystem of large and broad language models like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini will evolve into a more diverse ecosystem of smaller and domain-specific foundation models, each mastering their own data domain.

NEWS

Microsoft introduced a new Copilot feature called Copilot Daily. It will offer users spoken summaries of weather and news, using content from paid partnerships with major publishers like Reuters and The Financial Times. Microsoft also announced their own version of AI-powered overviews coming to Bing.

On World News Day, Reuters Institute's outgoing director Rasmus Kleis Nielsen asked: What if the public is turning away from journalism , despite its crucial role in democracy?

Other news updates:

• The New York Times redesigned its app to highlight content beyond just news. Link
• Politico partners with an AI startup to create a custom article summarization tool. Link
• The Knight Election Hub offers curated products and services to help improve election coverage. Link
• Trusting News develops a tool to help journalists with AI disclosures. Link

+ A really interesting article on how The New York Times mixes human editors' choices with smart algorithms to pick what goes on its home page.

VIDEO

Mercedes-Benz and Sony Pictures want to make the driving experience a viewing experience with a new in-car entertainment service offering a wide range of movies streamable on multiple screens.

YouTube and other social video platforms are seeing a rise of high-quality, long-form content. A prime example is a 2.5-hour cinematic documentary on YouTube featuring the first influencer on Mount Everest. Meanwhile, Stapleview, known for TikTok's first long-form comedy show, is developing a slate of half-hour programs for various social platforms.

Other video trends:

• Meta announced Movie Gen, an AI-powered video generator that can create new clips from text prompts or edit your face into existing footage. Link
• Pika Labs launched Pika 1.5, capable of creating new unreal effects, cinematic shots, and more moving elements. Link
• Caliope is offering YouTube Creators a way to get paid for AI training data Link
• Marion Ranchet takes a look at the European broadcasting landscape: Linear TV is transforming, not dying. Link

AUDIO

Germany's public broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) has launched BR Regional Update, an innovative service delivering personalized radio news content based on listeners' locations, breaking down traditional broadcasts into modular, geo-tagged segments.

The UK MIDAS survey asked participants about their need states around audio listening, revealing diverse purposes served by different audio types. Some audio types serve similar purposes, like keeping us company or making us feel informed, but others serve more specific needs like providing a social soundtrack or helping us to engage in conversations.

SOCIAL MEDIA

The EU Commission has requested information from YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok about their content recommendation algorithms. The platforms must respond by November 15, after which the EU will decide on next steps, potentially including fines for non-compliance.

Meta announced that creators made $2 billion on Facebook last year , highlighting the platform's growing importance as a revenue source for content creators.

Meanwhile Meta's Canadian news ban created a stark "before and after" in the digital landscape of small towns in Canada.

Other social media trends:

• Social media companies are stuck in an innovation loop, constantly copying each other's features. Link
• Instagram rolled out a new tool called "best practices" to coach creators and businesses on content optimization. Link

SHORT

• CNN will start locking some articles behind a paywall.
• Google Lens now allows users to search using video and voice queries.
• NotebookLM podcast hosts reportedly discovered they are AI.

• 23 examples of AI use in video advertising creative from the last six years.
• YouTube Shorts are getting less short (up to 3 minutes).

READ

My book top of the week: "Design Futuring" : A really interesting guide to exploring, visualizing, and negotiating future scenarios.

If you want to be on par with the cool kids you should perhaps check Ok Cool's latest trend report on all things young & happening online.

Media organisations are increasingly under control of the state - a worrying evolution that is detailed in the latest the State Media Monitor 2024.

And a long read worth checking: How Europeans are recruited through Telegram for sabotage and violence.

One more thing: I made this version of Wayfinder while I was at the excellent b°future festival in Bonn bringing celebrating constructive journalism. Shout-out to founder Ellen Heinrichs and here quest for rebuilding trust with the audience.

That's it for this week! Wayfinder is made to travel so feel free to share it with friends and colleagues!