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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Amazon widens access to video generator as AI ad tools gain traction
This story was originally published on Marketing Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Marketing Dive newsletter. Less than a year after releasing in beta, Amazon's artificial intelligence-powered video generator is now available to all U.S. advertisers on the e-commerce platform. The fast rollout of the solution, which spins up half a dozen videos based on the input of a product ID, speaks to the mounting arms race between digital advertising platforms when it comes to leveraging generative AI to produce rich media assets, particularly for small- and mid-sized marketers that typically can't afford them. The news announced Tuesday follows Google's latest updates on its Veo AI video tool from May and Meta expanding its generative AI vision to encompass more aspects of the marketing pipeline. For Amazon, the simply named video generator wields a few advantages, namely that it is up and running right now. 'It's real. This isn't like a 'coming soon' message,' said Jay Richman, vice president of product and technology at Amazon, who positioned the offering against 'vaporware' and "fantastical prototypes.' The latest version of Amazon's video generator can create far more sophisticated ads than those that were available during the beta period that began last September, per a demo Richman showed to Marketing Dive. Rather than focusing on static scenes, such as a record player sitting on a bare table, the technology can emulate realistic motion from virtual models, like a besuited man checking a watch on his wrist for the time. It is also better at stringing multiple scenes together, with smoother transitions between animations, and can include elements like humans or pets for dynamism. 'We had to do a lot to constrain the models to avoid hallucinations or to improve our yield rate. We were kind of optimizing for the floor of creative quality versus the ceiling,' said Richman of the video generator's early stages. Video generator lives on Amazon's sponsored brand campaign builder and can surface six videos in a matter of minutes based on the advertiser's input and campaign needs. The back end analyzes the submitted product's detail page, including customer reviews, and feeds those factors into an image generator that then sends information into the video model. Advertisers can upload existing media from their library, such as social content or product demos, as well as assets like logos. Editing tools allow for fine-tuning logo placements, fonts and headlines while ensuring the end result matches any brand-specific guidelines 'We'll add more controls over time but we're really trying to keep it dead simple,' said Richman. In terms of monetization, the video generator is free, which could appeal to marketers that are facing tightened budgets but continued demands for precision. 'Byproduct businesses may emerge in the future but right now we just want to build something that customers love, that they use in an increased fashion and that we see their businesses grow as a result of adoption,' said Richman. One customer, the ad agency BTR Media, described using the feature to cater videos to different product searches, like whether the user is looking for chocolate or vanilla protein products. BTR Media in a statement said video generator has been a 'game-changer' for its clients. Amazon souping up its video generator follows progress in developing its image generator, which has had more time to ingest the massive e-commerce marketplace's product catalog since debuting around 18 months ago. One telling insight from the testing phase was that half of the products that were promoted with video generator had not been advertised before, a sign that Amazon is onboarding more brands into its retail media ecosystem through a diversification in media creation capabilities. Uptake has been apparent even outside of the categories to which video generator is tailored. 'What surprised us is that we're actually seeing a fair number of mid- and even larger-size brands embracing the tool,' said Richman. Amazon says that sponsored brand campaigns featuring video see a 30% higher click-through rate, on average, than those without. The findings align with a larger push by the company to crack the code on full-funnel advertising that extends beyond its historic know-how in retail media that tends to be oriented around lower-funnel performance marketing. Amazon's revenue derived from ad sales increased 19% year over year to $13.92 billion in Q1, above analyst estimates. 'The introduction of video allows for greater stopping of the scroll and communicating of value, and therefore they perform, on average, much better,' said Richman. For now, ads made with video generator will run in the usual places where sponsored brand campaigns appear. Asked about whether there are plans to broaden the availability to other Amazon-owned properties, such as Prime Video or the livestreaming service Twitch, Richman demurred while emphasizing that Amazon will continue to ramp up its investments and innovation bets in generative AI. 'All I can say is watch this space,' said Richman. 'You see the quality curve that we're on. I'll let you connect the dots.' Recommended Reading Amazon launches AI-powered video ad generator ahead of holidays Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tommy Richman Claps Back at Streamer Asking Him to Sing: ‘What Am I? A Dancing Monkey?'
Don't ask Tommy Richman to sing on command. The Virginia singer popped up on streamer DLOU's Twitch earlier this week and found himself in an awkward situation. While hanging out in a studio in L.A. with fellow artists like Cash Cobain and newcomer B Jack$, whose song 'Get Jiggy' is an early contender for Song of the Summer, DLOU asked Richman to sing his smash hit 'Million Dollar Baby' on the spot — which didn't go over well. More from Billboard Tommy Richman Talks Working On New Album, 'Worlds Apart,' Nomination for 'Million Dollar Baby' & More | AMAs 2025 How 'Real Women Have Curves' Went From 2002 Film to 2025 Tony Nominee: 'It's Like It Should Have Always Been a Musical' Chris Brown Earns 21 New RIAA Certifications - Including 8x Platinum for These Two Hits 'I ain't singing that sh–, bro,' a clearly annoyed Tommy Richman said. 'What am I? A dancing monkey? I'm not singing that sh–. I don't even know you, bro.' He then reiterated that he was in no mood to sing on command for DLOU's chat and demanded to be treated with some decency. 'I'm not singing sh–,' he said again. 'So chill out, bro. Have some respect. Have some respect, bro. I just met you, bro. You're telling me to sing a song. Talk to me like a real man. I don't give a f— about this streaming sh–, bro. Talk to me like a real man.' He then added: 'Get your camera off me, bro. Don't be weird to me.' 'Million Dollar Baby' took over TikTok and the rest of social media last year, propelling the song to debut at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2024. During last month's American Music Awards, Richman told Billboard that he's working on a new album that he plans to release sometime this summer. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Data broker giant LexisNexis says breach exposed personal information of over 364,000 people
LexisNexis Risk Solutions, a data broker that collects and uses consumers' personal data to help its paying corporate customers detect possible risk and fraud, has disclosed a data breach affecting more than 364,000 people. The company said in a filing with Maine's attorney general that the breach, dating back to December 25, 2024, allowed a hacker to obtain consumers' sensitive personal data from a third-party platform used by the company for software development. Jennifer Richman, a spokesperson for LexisNexis, told TechCrunch that an unknown hacker accessed the company's GitHub account. The stolen data varies, but includes names, dates of birth, phone numbers, postal and email addresses, Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers. It's not immediately clear what circumstances led to the breach. Richman said LexisNexis received a report on April 1, 2025 "from an unknown third party claiming to have accessed certain information." The company would not say if it had received a ransom demand from the hacker. Data brokers like LexisNexis are part of a billion-dollar industry of companies that profit from collecting and selling access to large amounts of Americans' personal and financial data. LexisNexis uses swathes of consumer information to help companies detect potentially fraudulent transactions, as well as to perform risk assessment and due diligence on would-be customers. Last year, The New York Times reported that car manufacturers were among several companies that shared data on vehicle driving habits with LexisNexis without car owners' explicit permission. The data was then sold on to insurance companies, which used the mileage and driving data to determine the drivers' insurance premiums. Law enforcement agencies also use LexisNexis for obtaining personal information on suspects, such as names, home addresses, and call records. Earlier this month, the Trump administration scrapped a plan that would have restricted data brokers from selling Americans' personal and financial information, including Social Security numbers. White House official Russell Vought wrote in a Federal Register notice that the Biden-era rule, which would have required data brokers to follow the same federal privacy rules as credit bureaus and renter-screening companies, was "not necessary or appropriate," despite long-standing calls by privacy advocates to close the loophole. Updated with comment from LexisNexis. Sign in to access your portfolio
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
BKFC's Mike Richman shares disturbing images of cuts from bloody loss
BKFC's Mike Richman shares disturbing images of cuts from bloody loss Mike Richman paid the price for the realities of bare knuckle boxing on Saturday at BKFC 74 when his face was split apart. Richman suffered a fourth-round TKO loss to Josh Dyer at Maverick Center in Salt Lake City, costing him his light heavyweight championship and a lot of blood and skin. It was difficult to see the extent of Richman's cut through all the blood. After he was cleaned up and stitched up, he took some before and after images of the gruesome lacerations. Check it out below (via Instagram Stories): After the fight, Richman issued a statement where he said he intends to drop down in weight. A Bellator and longtime MMA veteran, Richman has gone 6-3 in his BKFC career, but said in recent bouts he has been competing well outside of his best weight class.
Hamilton Spectator
07-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Village of Pemberton eyes 14.2% tax increase for 2025
Taxes are set to go up in Pemberton. At its May 6 meeting, Pemberton's mayor and council gave first, second and third readings to a five-year financial plan containing a 14.2-per-cent municipal tax increase for 2025. 'This was a tough process,' said Mayor Mike Richman. 'There's a significant increase in our budget here. We know that. And I think all of council has sort of stated in different ways that to do less would have been—as much as we want to keep things as affordable as possible, we've kept our tax rate quite low and to do less [of an increase] would be irresponsible.' Pemberton's budget reflects the Village's stated priorities during this year's budget seaso n; namely, addressing aging infrastructure, maintaining amenities once grant funding has expired and building up reserves to meet the needs of a growing population. Through the 2025 budget season, council has asked for a handful of revisions to the budget, including a five-per-cent contribution to address historically low general reserves and to start saving for the cost of a future municipal police force , contributions to water and sewer reserves to pay for future upgrades to meet a growing population and the establishment of a Speĺkúmtn Community Forest Spending Policy . 'So, you heard loud and clear that we need to take care of our infrastructure,' said Richman of the budget and tax increase. 'That we're growing and putting these reserves aside is a step in that direction. Starting the reserves towards policing is a step in that direction to try to ease the pain of what's coming with that. So it's been a tough budget as well, but I believe we've landed in the right place and I just want residents to know that it's still very lean.' Pemberton's council approved a five-per-cent tax increase in 2022 , an eight-per-cent increase in 2023 and 9.8 per cent in 2024. After unanimous approval of the five-year financial plan, council also gave first, second and third readings to a host of other tax and utility rate bylaws. A breakdown of 2025 tax rates by dollars of tax per $1,000 of taxable property value can be found in council's meeting documents. The report also breaks down tax rates by contribution to the municipality—including reserves and the community engagement fund—to the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District and to the Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District. The frontage rate for sewage remains at $5.24 per metre of sewer adjacent to a property. The water frontage rate has increased from $3.20 per metre in 2024 to $6.97 in 2025, per a new bylaw. Councillor Ted Craddock suggested considering charging for road frontage in a future budget. Other municipalities use revenue from road frontage taxation to pay for road maintenance and development. User fees for water and sewer rates have also increased from last year, broken down by class of property. Council laid out a series of capital expenditures to fund over the next five years, including a new municipal hall and council chambers building, fire engine replacements, a new firehall, electric vehicle chargers, upgrades to public parks and a new water treatment facility. A full list of projects to be funded through the 2025 budget and beyond is available in the five-year financial plan . A new RV sani-dump was also discussed, with $33,000 set aside for a hypothetical replacement for the old RV waste hook-up in the 2025 budget, which closed along with the visitors centre in 2024 . With RV season approaching, chief administrative officer Elizabeth Tracy suggested installing one next to the Pemberton transfer station might be the way forward. Council directed staff to look at replacement sites. A draft final budget was circulated during a committee of the whole meeting on April 22. Council is set to vote on its 2025 budget during a May 13 special council meeting. The 2025 tax rate, effective Jan. 1, 2025, is up for adoption then.
