AI Enters the Chat

While a Gen AI–powered transformation of all things digital may still be a ways off, glimpses of the new ways people may access and use information online may be coming into clearer focus. That’s not to say that core elements of the internet, like search, are going away–but there is little doubt that big changes are coming. Google, for example, has recently expanded its?Search Generative Experience?to include?AI-generated answers?to select user's queries. And novel contenders?like Perplexity.AI?strive to create viable alternatives to Google’s search supremacy as the?minimally regulated?field of AI seems poised to drown us all in spam.??

?But social feeds are already changing under Gen AI’s pressure. Meta, which soft-launched an AI chatbot to a number of WhatsApp users?last September?(the experience is now available globally),?has?quietly revealed its AI assistant?to users across Instagram over the weekend. Rather than the standard search bar, users are now met with the encouragement to "Ask Meta AI anything," including a slew of suggestions like how to reduce food waste, tips for home innovation, and recommendations for solo travel.?

?Following its release, the CEO of?Perplexity AI, Aravind Srinivas,?posted to X pointing to the similarities?of Meta's interface to the startup's search screen. Upon accessing the feature, users on Instagram are redirected to?a DM conversation with Meta AI?to converse on any topic of their choosing, and the technology can also reference relevant Instagram content where relevant.??

?Supposedly, the feature?can also generate images?based on users' text prompts, though?a Meta spokesperson?has stated that the generative elements of Meta AI are still under development and being tested publicly at a limited capacity.?

Implications for brands:?Whether they asked for it or not, consumers are going encounter an increasingly AI-powered social media realm, especially as platforms like Meta continue embedding the technology into unavoidable corners of their platforms. That, paired with?the allegations of unregulated AI content?circulating across platforms like Facebook, inflates people's grievances and disrupts the authenticity of an online presence. While it is important to take advantage of such capabilities, a development like this presents an opportunity for brands to strategize about reaching their consumers through alternative means and fostering reconnection through authentic, human experiences.?

Other news and trends?

• Tesla layoffs.?The world's most valuable automaker?revealed on Monday?that more than 10% of its workforce would be eliminated. The news coincides?with two of Elon Musk's top deputies announcing their departures and the company’s?first?year-over-year decline?in vehicles since 2020.?Despite efforts to stimulate demand, the company is suffering??a dropping stock price?and?narrowing profit margins.?(Related: It’s not the only corporate venture from Elon Musk?facing pressure within the global market.)??In response to?one user's?lengthy analysis on X,?Musk claimed?that the decision is part of Tesla's routine streamlining efforts for "the next phase of growth."?
• Today in retail news:?The Lego dark web.?For a time,?a circle of four people?in Los Angeles were raiding retail stores like Target, Home Depot, and Lowe's of their Lego stock to sell–amusingly–on the?Lego black market. This week, the California Highway Patrol?announced?that it had arrested the group for stealing approximately?$300,000 worth of Lego sets, including the Millennium Falcon,?Lord of the Rings?Rivendell, and Porsche 911 sets. Naturally, people online?are somewhat amused?by the existence of such a ring of thieves, some?joking at the cost of Lego sets in general?.?Related:?A deep dive?on organized retail theft, and the Highway Patrol’s efforts to stymie corporate losses.??
• Ikea's gaming furniture.?Subverting the traditional dark, neon-lit aesthetic of gaming setups,?Ikea is introducing what it calls its Br?nnboll collection, an assembly of 20 items, including desks, chairs, accessories, and other storage solutions in a style befitting Scandinavian simplicity.?This line embraces neutral tones with subtle pops of color that easily blend into most homes,?fortifying Ikea's statement of?developing a collection that presents gaming for everyone and belonging everywhere.?
• Coachella.?The highly anticipated?music festival of the year kicked off?in the California desert this past weekend, and with it, a rush of talked-about trending moments, outfits, and performances online (#Coachella?on TikTok – 495.9K posts).?Influencers?wasted no time sharing?their over-the-top outfits?of the day all weekend,?with styles ranging?from typical Boho vibes to all-denim lewks. Brands like?Tarte Cosmetics?and?Revolve?hosted influencers with both on-theme housing and events. Meanwhile, viral performances included a duet between?Lana Del Rey and Billie Eilish, Doja Cat's?sci-fi fueled headline show, and?Will Smith surprising everyone?with his on-stage appearance during J Balvin's set.?

Contributors: Head of Social Content and Engagement Strategy Cristina Lawrence, Senior Vice President Jerry Lawrence, Group Vice President Andrew McKernan, and Senior Vice President Tammy Pepito. At Razorfish, we help brands define their higher purpose—the emotional reason why they belong in people’s lives. Ready to find your purpose? Learn more here.

?