Japanese startup generates photorealistic AI-humans
Japanese startup DataGrid, based on the campus of Kyoto University, has developed an AI algorithm that can spit out an endless parade of realistic-appearing humans that don’t exist. In a video demonstrating the tech, the AI humans continuously morph into new people, showing off different poses and looks. [embedded content] By using a generative adversarial…
Shoppable, QR-coded ads hit broadcast TV
NBC Universal (NBCU) is establishing a new shoppable ad unit, called ShoppableTV, that lets marketers send NBC viewers to product pages on their mobile devices. The ads will contain onscreen QR codes. Viewers point their mobile phone cameras at the codes and are redirected to the product pages, where they can buy the item. In…
Startup partners with cities to make safer scooters
Spotted: Swedish startup VOI Technology is promising scooters that represent the “future of urban mobility.” Its focus is on safety, which includes working directly with city officials to improve transportation as it expands its network. VOI’s electronic scooter platform works a lot like its rivals: you download an app, find a scooter and scan a…
Startup creates less toxic social media platform
Spotted: Singapore-based Escapex has created an alternative social media platform for influencers and their fans. The social media app allows celebrities and other influential social media personas to create “personally owned platforms,” or custom mobile apps, on the Escapex platform. Their fans join for free. The company wanted to create a more intimate space for…
Database to prevent PR disasters
Spotted: Grow Your Circle is an open source database that helps U.S. agencies find under-represented talent, such as people with disabilities, those from diverse ethnic backgrounds, or who are LGBTQ+. The database can also be searched for female or minority-owned businesses. Created Forsman & Bodenfors, the database is aiming to help companies avoid misfires. For…
Architect proposes turning Notre Dame’s roof into an eco-farm
Spotted: Paris-based Vincent Callebaut Architectures has proposed rebuilding Notre Dame’s roof into a garden that produces fruits and vegetables. The design showcases the potential of eco-engineering and is a “socially minded” response to the fire, according to the studio. The new roof is also designed to create more energy than it uses. Fruits and vegetables…
A match-making app for hospitality industry
Takeaway: Supp is the brainchild of Australian pastry chef Kate Reid. In an interview with Gourmet Traveller, Reid said 11th hour staff cancellations inspired her to create the app. The app calculates that 10 percent of the Australian workforce – 900,000 workers – are employed in the hospitality shift. It also estimates that there is…
71% of medical devices still run on Windows 7, Windows 2008, and Windows mobile
Medical IoT devices carry significant cybersecurity risks, according to a Forescout report. Top 5 things to know about IoT and medicine The Internet of Things has uses in many different industries; Tom Merritt explains five ways it’s being used in the medical field. The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has exploded across the healthcare industry,…
Startup serves as matchmaker for companies and digital agencies
Spotted: Belgium startup Sortlist pairs companies with marketing and advertising services based on their needs. It aims to become the match.com for businesses looking for the right marketing company. Sortlist, a free service, differs from LinkedIn and Google searches in several ways. First, it asks companies for detailed information about what they need in a digital agency. Second, it…
An invisible, edible film for reducing food waste
Spotted: US-based startup Cambridge Crops has developed an invisible, edible film to preserve the shelf life of food. The company says the tasteless film could radically decrease food waste. The film is thinner than a piece of human hair and is created by spraying a water-based solution made with silk molecules on food. It is not like the…