Digital Roundup: 016

From Elon Musk dipping his toe into the world of AI to advice on the right way to run a survey, discover the industry news that caught our attention this month.

MUSK’S AI MADNESS SPARKS ALARM 

Elon Musk’s xAI launches Grok-2, an AI chatbot with unfiltered image-generation capabilities, raising eyebrows and concerns.  

Early images include disturbing depictions, such as public figures in violent scenarios, triggering brand safety alarms. The lack of content moderation is likely to worsen X’s already strained relationship with advertisers, potentially leading to more losses.  

Experts warn of potential IP infringements and the spread of misinformation, especially during a sensitive election cycle. While Europe tightens AI regulations, the U.S. lags, leaving platforms like X vulnerable to misuse, with Alejandra Caraballo, an instructor at Harvard Law School’s Cyberlaw Clinic, claiming “This is one of the most reckless and irresponsible AI implementations I’ve ever seen”. 

Despite the backlash, X seems to revel in the controversy, with a cheeky nod to Grok-2’s chaotic energy on its official account.  

TIKTOK’S NEW FEATURE: FUTURE OR FLOP? 

TikTok is rolling out a feature that lets users create an AI version of their own voice for video voice-overs, replacing generic template voices with a digital clone of your own. Users simply speak into their device to create their AI voice, which can then be used on future clips. The feature even allows for language translation, broadening its appeal.  

This feature stems from TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, and its advanced AI voice replication research, which only needs minimal input to create convincing voice clones.   

While the technology is impressive, it raises concerns about the potential for more realistic deepfakes and hoaxes, adding to the growing list of ethical concerns surrounding AI.  

The feature could be useful for creators looking for efficiency, but it’s unclear if it’s a real game-changer or just another attempt by social platforms to solve problems that don’t really exist.  

NEW STUDY REVEALS SURVEY SNAFU 

Forbes conducted a study of U.S. consumers, who shared their thoughts on satisfaction surveys. Here are some key insights into their willingness (or reluctance) to complete them:  

Lengthy surveys have a higher chance of being ignored. If you’re looking to lose customer engagement, go ahead and pen that epic questionnaire.

Survey success rates soar when they’re sent right after a purchase or interaction. A week later? Not so much.  

Over 70% of customers feel ignored after completing a survey, and 37% doubt their feedback is taken seriously. Acknowledge and act on feedback—or risk becoming a survey villain.  

Good service leads to good survey responses. If customers are satisfied, they’re 7x more likely to fill out your survey. Conversely, a bad experience makes customers skip the survey to avoid further interaction.  

After gathering feedback, make sure to send an acknowledgement. Personalised responses not only show appreciation but can also turn a mundane survey into a meaningful interaction.  

In short, surveys done right can enhance customer loyalty and improve experiences. Done wrong, they can drive customers away faster than you can say “feedback.”  

YOUTUBE AND SHOPIFY TAKE THINGS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

YouTube is ramping up its competition with TikTok Shop by extending its collaboration with Shopify. Now, more brands and creators can join the affiliate shopping program, aiming to capture a larger slice of the social commerce pie.  

Creators just need to install the Google and YouTube app on Shopify to start tagging products. The Google Merchant Center provides tools for managing the program and tracking performance, making it easier to stay on top of sales and analytics.  

With over 30 billion hours of shopping-related video watched on YouTube, the platform is enhancing its features to make it easier for creators to connect with fans, tag products, and drive sales.  

YouTube aims to help merchants and creators build successful collaborations and thriving businesses in the ever-growing world of social commerce. Read more about this partnership here.