tech news

Amazon Offers Influencers $25 Per Video to Promote Inspire, New Shopping Feed

Leave a Comment / Marketing, News, Tech News / By Sandhya Gupta

In a bid to expand its reach and boost its newly launched shopping feed called Inspire, Amazon has extended an offer to influencers in a move that has sparked both interest and skepticism. The tech giant is proposing to compensate content creators with a meager $25 per video to promote its TikTok-inspired shopping feed, but this low rate has left many influencers hesitant to jump on board.

According to screenshots of emails circulating on social media, Amazon has contacted select influencers to produce videos showcasing two or more of its products. The offer includes $12,500 for creating a maximum of 500 videos. The desired content ranges from product reviews and comparisons to ranking videos and gift inspiration featuring multiple products. With an aim to gather a whopping 35,000 videos for its Inspire feed, Amazon is setting aside $875,000 for this influencer-driven campaign.

Inspire was introduced by Amazon in December 2022, allowing users to engage with a social feed of shoppable content. Oliver Messenger, the director of Amazon Shopping, explained that the feature permits customers to effortlessly discover new products aligned with their interests and promptly make purchases on the Amazon platform. The overarching objective behind Inspire is to augment Amazon’s assortment of “shoppable features” and construct an immersive shopping experience for customers.

Nonetheless, the $25 compensation per video has raised eyebrows among influencers and content creators. The prevailing rate for User Generated Content (UGC) videos stands at $212 on average, with a commonly requested rate of $150 per video, as reported by UGC agency Brands Meet Creators. Insights from UGC creators indicate a wide range of charges, spanning from $150 to $2,500 per video.

Amidst the reveal of Amazon’s offer, some influencers have publicly ridiculed the proposal on social media platforms. One user posted a screenshot of the email on a well-known microblogging site, alongside a dismissive comment implying that Amazon’s offer is far from satisfactory. Others shared similar sentiments, with one commentator scoffing at the proposition of earning “up to $25 per video.”

Also Read: WhatsApp now allows users to share HD images; check how to use this new feature

While Amazon’s aspiration to leverage influencers to further enhance its Inspire shopping feed is clear, the industry consensus suggests that the offered compensation of $25 per video may not be sufficient to entice content creators to participate wholeheartedly. As discussions continue, the outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is evident: the world of influencer marketing is evolving rapidly, with compensation being a pivotal factor in shaping the dynamics between brands and influencers.

Sandhya Gupta

I am a law graduate from NLU Lucknow. I have a flair for creative writing and hence in my free time work as a freelance content writer.

WhatsApp now allows users to share HD images; check how to use this new feature

Leave a Comment / News, Tech News / By Sandhya Gupta

In an exciting update, WhatsApp has introduced a brand-new feature that lets users share high-definition (HD) images, enhancing the visual experience of sharing moments with friends and family.

The announcement was made by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, signaling a step forward in the evolution of the popular messaging platform. This enhancement falls in line with WhatsApp’s commitment to delivering a seamless and secure user experience.

The HD image sharing feature, like WhatsApp’s other message formats, ensures the utmost security through end-to-end encryption, safeguarding users’ privacy even when sharing high-quality images. Building on this innovation, Meta is also set to introduce HD video sharing, adding another layer of visual richness to the user experience in the near future.

For those concerned about data usage and connectivity, rest assured that the default option for photo sharing remains the Standard Quality. However, for moments that deserve a higher level of detail, users can now opt for HD quality on a photo-by-photo basis. This intelligent design choice ensures that sharing photos over WhatsApp remains swift and reliable, even in regions with low bandwidth.

The rollout of HD Photos will be a gradual process, with availability expanding globally over the coming weeks. Users can anticipate the introduction of HD Videos as well, further enhancing the platform’s multimedia capabilities. To enjoy these exciting updates, ensure your WhatsApp application is up to date.

The process of sharing HD images largely mirrors the familiar steps, with just one additional action to share in high quality. After selecting the image to share, tap the ‘HD’ option displayed at the top center of the screen. A choice between standard and high quality will then be presented, allowing you to tailor your sharing experience based on the moment and your preferences. Once your selection is made, simply hit the share button to spread your high-definition memory.

Also Read: Tesla Rolls Out New Base Model S and X for $10,000 Less

In tandem with these enhancements, WhatsApp is rumored to be working on an innovative generative AI feature. This feature, centered around AI-generated stickers, will empower users to prompt the application to create stickers based on short prompts, providing a novel way to express emotions and thoughts in conversations. A sneak peek of this feature was shared by WABetaInfo, a platform known for tracking beta features, revealing yet another dimension of WhatsApp’s evolving capabilities.

In conclusion, WhatsApp’s latest HD image sharing feature is set to revolutionize how users share visual moments, maintaining the platform’s commitment to security and user experience. As this exciting update rolls out globally, users can also look forward to the arrival of HD video sharing and the potential for AI-generated stickers, marking a dynamic and innovative chapter in WhatsApp’s journey. Stay tuned, update your app, and elevate your messaging experience with these cutting-edge features.

Sandhya Gupta

I am a law graduate from NLU Lucknow. I have a flair for creative writing and hence in my free time work as a freelance content writer.

Tesla Rolls Out New Base Model S and X for $10,000 Less

Leave a Comment / News, Tech News / By Suhani Jain

As competitiveness heats up, Tesla Inc. has released two lesser specification models of its less widely popular Model S as well as Model X electric cars to the United States and Canadian market, cutting their cost by ten thousand dollars.

Compared to the base models, the more affordable variants have a little shorter range and slower acceleration. As per the automobile giant’s website, the ‘Standard Range’ Model S sedan has a price of 78,490 USD, whereas the less expensive Model X sport utility is priced at 88,490 USD.

Just under five per cent of Tesla’s shipments in the second half were of the Tesla Model S and X, which represent a small portion of the company’s revenues. The S and X do not receive any price reductions, which lessens the appeal of them. In contrast to the 3 and Y, which are qualified for a 7,500 dollars US tax credit.

Elon Musk, the company’s chief executive officer, indicated in July that if interest rates kept rising, Tesla was going to keep cutting its pricing and that he was prepared to give up more profit to increase production and sales.

The cost of Tesla’s higher-spec Model Ys in China was reduced on Monday by 14,000 yuan which is approximately $1,900, raising fears of a fresh pricing war in the fiercely competitive Chinese market.

A competing attempt by Tesla to lower pricing once further in China’s mainland caused shares to fall up to as 3 per cent in early Monday trade.

Shares somewhat recovered from their initial losses to trade in the red, finishing Monday down about 1.2 per cent. The company made the announcements late on Sunday night in a Weibo post.

Sold at 299,000 & 349,000 yuan in China, two Model Y crossovers from Tesla have been marked down by 14,000 yuan, or almost two thousand dollars.

A limited-time insurance subsidy for the Model 3 will be available for 8,000 yuan, which is approximately 1,100 dollars. According to Tesla’s statement, the insurance subsidy will keep running through the end of September.

Also Read: ChatGPT Creator OpenAI Is Testing Content Moderation Systems

The second half of 2023 saw a fierce pricing battle between Tesla and indigenous Chinese automakers including BYD, Nio, as well as Xpeng that severely reduced Tesla’s profit margins. Even as it increases output in its Shanghai Gigafactory, Tesla has fallen behind domestic rivals.

Tesla reduced pricing numerous times in 2022 and 2023 to reduce inventory and increase delivery, the closest estimate of sales the firm provides.

Suhani Jain

I am a student pursuing my bachelor’s in information technology. I have a interest in writing so, I am working a freelance content writer because I enjoy writing. I also write poetries. I believe in the quote by anne frank “paper has more patience than person

ChatGPT Creator OpenAI Is Testing Content Moderation Systems

Leave a Comment / Artificial Intellegence, News, Tech News / By Suhani Jain

One of the trickiest problems on the web for years has been content management. Given how subjective it is involved in deciding what information should be allowed on a certain platform, it is a challenging topic for anybody to approach. OpenAI, the company that created ChatGPT, believes it can be of assistance and has been testing GPT-4’s capacity for content moderation. To develop a content management platform that is scalable, uniform, as well as customizable, it utilises the big multimodal model.

In a blog post, the business claimed that GPT-4 can, not solely assist in content moderation choices, but also in the development of rules and the speedy iteration of modifications to existing policies, lowering the process’s duration from months to hours.

It proclaims that the model can quickly adjust to any adjustments and interpret the numerous rules and nuanced aspects of content restrictions. According to OpenAI, this leads to more consistently labelled material.

OpenAI asserts GPT-4 moderating technologies enable businesses to complete about six months’ worth of work in a single day.

“We believe this offers a more positive vision of the future of digital platforms, where AI can help moderate online traffic according to platform-specific policy and relieve the mental burden of a large number of human moderators, ” OpenAI’s Lilian Weng, Vik Goel and Andrea Vallone wrote. “Anyone with OpenAI API access can implement this approach to create their own AI-assisted moderation system.”
Source: engadget.com

Manually assessing distressing information may have a major negative effect on human reviewers’ mental health, especially when it involves graphic content, as has been thoroughly documented. More than eleven thousand moderators will get a minimum of one thousand dollars in compensation from Meta in 2020 for any mental health problems that may have resulted from analysing content that was uploaded on Facebook.

Also Read: Amazon Is Imposing Fee on Sellers Who Ship Products Themselves

“Judgments by language models are vulnerable to undesired biases that might have been introduced into the model during training. As with any AI application, results and output will need to be carefully monitored, validated and refined by maintaining humans in the loop,” OpenAI’s blog post reads.
Source: engadget.com

AI algorithms are not flawless. Major businesses have long used artificial intelligence in their moderation procedures, yet even with the help of technological advances, they frequently make poor content selections. It will be interesting to see if OpenAI’s technology will prevent many of the big moderation pitfalls that we have observed other businesses making throughout the years.

Suhani Jain

Amazon Is Imposing Fee on Sellers Who Ship Products Themselves

Leave a Comment / News, Tech News / By Sandhya Gupta

In a significant shift that could impact third-party sellers on its platform, Amazon is reportedly introducing a new fee for merchants who choose not to utilize the company’s fulfillment service.

According to reports from Bloomberg and CNBC, this fee will come into effect on October 1st, targeting sellers enrolled in Amazon’s Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP) program.

The SFP service, introduced by Amazon in 2015, allows third-party vendors to offer Prime products directly from their own warehouses, bypassing Amazon’s logistics process. While this offers sellers more control over their shipping operations, they are required to uphold Amazon’s stringent delivery standards, including one- to two-day shipping and weekend deliveries.

The timing of this fee imposition has raised eyebrows, especially considering the current regulatory environment. Reports suggest that the Federal Trade Commission is preparing an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, adding to the company’s challenges. Additionally, this fee compounds the existing 8 to 15 percent commission that Amazon already deducts from orders on its platform.

The 2 percent fee could potentially serve Amazon’s strategic interests. By encouraging sellers to opt for its in-house fulfillment service, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), the e-commerce giant gains tighter control over the logistics process while also capitalizing on rising FBA expenses. However, this move might attract regulatory attention, as it echoes accusations made against Amazon in 2019, alleging the company forced sellers into using FBA.

Amazon initially halted new enrollments in the SFP program in 2019, resuming the waitlist only in June of this year, purportedly to appease regulatory concerns. The exact reasoning behind this fee implementation remains unclear, as Amazon has yet to respond to requests for further information.

Also Read: Amazon’s Robot Workers to Help Run Australia’s Largest Warehouse

For third-party sellers who have been enjoying the flexibility of the SFP program, this added charge could prompt a reassessment of their selling strategies. Some might see the fee as an incentive to shift towards Amazon’s fulfillment services, while others might be prompted to explore alternative platforms or shipping solutions.

As the e-commerce landscape evolves and competition intensifies, Amazon’s actions are being closely monitored by both sellers and regulators alike. While the fee introduction might be an attempt to consolidate Amazon’s control over its ecosystem, it could also spark fresh concerns about the company’s influence and practices within the industry. As the October 1st deadline approaches, sellers will need to carefully evaluate their options and consider the potential implications of this new fee on their business operations.

Sandhya Gupta

I am a law graduate from NLU Lucknow. I have a flair for creative writing and hence in my free time work as a freelance content writer.

Apple Plans Major ‘Watch X’ Overhaul for Device’s 10-Year Anniversary

Leave a Comment / apple, News, Tech News / By Sandhya Gupta

Apple is gearing up to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its groundbreaking smartwatch with a significant redesign of the iconic device. While the upcoming 2023 models are expected to be a modest upgrade, Apple enthusiasts can look forward to the launch of the highly anticipated “Watch X” in the near future.

The yearly refresh cycle of Apple’s flagship smartwatch has seen incremental improvements, often focusing on a specific feature enhancement. For instance, the Series 8 model introduced a body-temperature sensor, while the previous iteration boasted a larger display. Despite these consistent upgrades, industry insiders note that Apple hasn’t provided consumers with compelling reasons to frequently upgrade their watches, unlike the rapid innovation seen in the iPhone lineup.

The imminent 2023 Apple Watch Series 9 lineup, set to be unveiled alongside the latest iPhone on September 12, is projected to retain its current size dimensions. However, the notable advancements will be in the form of enhanced processors and a variety of fresh colors. While these updates may not excite recent Apple Watch buyers, they serve to attract first-time smartwatch adopters and those who are using older models.

The steady pace of incremental improvements has led Apple’s internal discussions about the potential benefits of deviating from this strategy. The company has historically adhered to a yearly upgrade cycle for the smartwatch, consistently releasing new models since the category’s debut in 2015. Yet, the recent evolution of the device has sparked internal deliberations about the necessity of such frequent updates.

However, Apple’s plans for its upcoming 10th anniversary “Watch X” model signal a bold departure from its established upgrade cycle. The company is already in the works to design a thinner watch case and explore novel methods of attaching bands to the device. The current mechanism, which involves sliding bands into the sides of the chassis and securing them with a locking mechanism, has proved functional but constraining in terms of utilizing available space for other components like batteries.

To address these design limitations, Apple’s engineers are reportedly experimenting with a magnetic band attachment system. While it remains uncertain whether this system will make its debut in the “Watch X,” it signifies the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of design to create a more efficient and versatile product.

Also Read: Foxconn Starts Production of Upcoming Apple iPhone 15 in Tamil Nadu Ahead of September Launch

Beyond the band attachment, “Watch X” is expected to feature transformative upgrades, including a microLED display that offers superior color and clarity compared to existing OLED screens. Additionally, insiders reveal that the company is working on incorporating blood pressure monitoring technology, positioning the smartwatch as a potential health and wellness companion.

As Apple moves towards the launch of the “Watch X,” it not only demonstrates its dedication to innovation but also marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of its smartwatch lineup. With this significant overhaul, the company aims to provide users with a compelling reason to upgrade, further cementing its status as a trailblazer in the tech industry.

Sandhya Gupta

I am a law graduate from NLU Lucknow. I have a flair for creative writing and hence in my free time work as a freelance content writer.

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