AEOS lands €10M investment to unify TV and streaming ad targeting

Croatian startup AEOS, formerly known as AdScanner, has secured €10 million in a Series B investment round led by Taiwania Capital, with additional backing from existing investors. This funding follows significant revenue growth and product innovations that aim to redefine how advertisers reach audiences across both traditional television and streaming platforms.

Founded in 2012, AEOS has become a key player in the European TV advertising market, using data-driven technology to enhance campaign planning and audience measurement. Operating in Croatia, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, and Serbia, the company plans to use the new investment to accelerate growth and develop its product offerings, particularly in the AI space.

The funding will support the development of AI-driven tools that help advertisers optimise their campaigns across platforms. AEOS has already gained recognition for its Cockpit solution, offering near real-time analytics and bridging the gap between traditional broadcast media and digital streaming services.

In 2024, AEOS will launch its second-generation AI-based planning tool, designed to unify TV and streaming campaigns into one seamless ecosystem. The tool allows advertisers to plan, measure, and optimise their campaigns across multiple devices with greater accuracy than ever before.

BMO names new chief AI and data officer

Bank of Montreal (BMO) has appointed Kristin Milchanowski as its chief AI and data officer, effective October 15. Formerly with EY, Milchanowski will lead the bank’s AI initiatives, focusing on data, robotics, and analytics. This new role builds on BMO’s ongoing investments in AI, aiming to enhance data management and governance while fostering a culture of innovation.

The financial sector views AI as a major opportunity, with potential uses like streamlining compliance tasks and enhancing customer service. However, integrating AI brings challenges, especially for firms managing sensitive data. Analysts suggest that AI-driven solutions could simplify processes and improve data-driven decision-making across the industry, offering significant benefits to financial services.

As AI adoption expands, US regulators seek public feedback to ensure these technologies foster fair and equitable access to financial services. Earlier this year, Morgan Stanley emphasised AI’s transformative potential, noting it could save financial advisers up to 15 hours of work per week, highlighting the significant impact AI could have on the industry.

Pinterest unveils AI features to enhance advertising

Pinterest has introduced new generative AI features for its advertisers, enhancing the functionality of its Performance+ suite during the recent Pinterest Presents event. This update allows advertisers to transform plain backgrounds into engaging lifestyle imagery, helping to boost the appeal of their product pins. Pinterest’s move follows similar offerings from major tech companies like Google and Amazon, which have also adopted generative AI to improve advertising effectiveness.

In tests with Walgreens, an early user of Pinterest’s generative AI, the drugstore chain experienced a 55% increase in clickthrough rates and a 13% decrease in cost-per-click when using AI-generated backgrounds. Pinterest claims its new tools will streamline campaign creation, requiring 50% less input from advertisers and potentially leading to a 64% reduction in cost per action and a 30% rise in conversion rates.

Additionally, Pinterest is rolling out new promotional tools that will allow advertisers to offer discounts to users in various countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Japan. The platform is also enhancing its Performance+ bidding system to prioritise high-value conversions rather than clicks, thereby providing advertisers with greater flexibility in achieving their marketing goals. All global advertisers will now have access to these improved Performance+ campaigns, aimed at driving consideration, conversions, and catalogue sales.

Vietnam to host Meta’s new AI and tech projects

Meta is set to expand its presence in Vietnam by increasing investment in AI and manufacturing. Starting in 2025, production of its latest mixed reality headset, the Quest 3S, will move to the country.

The announcement came shortly after Meta’s president for global affairs, Nick Clegg, met with Vietnamese officials. Vietnam is a key market for Meta, with millions of users relying on its social media platform, Facebook.

Meta also supports numerous small businesses in the region. While the size of the investment remains unclear, Meta’s commitment highlights the growing importance of the Vietnamese market for the company.

Additionally, Meta plans to further integrate AI innovations into its platforms. Testing of its Meta AI tool in Vietnamese will begin soon, with a full launch expected by the end of the year.

Dell to launch AI initiative for communications service providers

Dell has launched the Dell AI for Telecom Program, a strategic initiative to streamline the integration of AI solutions for communications service providers (CSPs). The program addresses the rising demand for advanced technologies in the telecommunications sector, empowering CSPs to optimise operations and meet evolving customer needs.

A cornerstone of this initiative is the expanded partnership with NVIDIA, which focuses on co-developing customised AI solutions through the Dell AI Factory. The program aims to enhance network performance and customer service, offering solutions such as advanced customer care platforms, operational automation, and robust network troubleshooting capabilities.

Dell is forging strategic partnerships with key industry players to drive innovation and expedite AI adoption. For example, its collaboration with Lintasarta, an Indonesian ICT solutions provider, aims to offer GPU-as-a-Service to national businesses, granting them access to high-performance AI infrastructure.

Furthermore, Dell is working with SK Telecom to develop an AI chat agent and the Mobile Network Operator (MNO) AI Platform, seamlessly integrating AI into existing business support systems to streamline telecom operations. To bolster these initiatives, Dell Professional Services will assist CSPs in strategising, implementing, and managing AI solutions tailored explicitly for the telecommunications sector. Overall, these concerted efforts position Dell’s initiatives as pivotal in driving network cloud transformation, reducing operational costs, and unlocking new revenue streams through innovative AI applications.

HP unveils Print AI experience in exclusive beta phase

HP has introduced its newest innovation, the HP Print AI experience, designed to change the way we print. Now in exclusive beta, this feature includes Perfect Output, which improves webpage printouts by automatically eliminating unwanted elements such as ads and unusual formatting. As a result, users will get only the essential text and images they need.

Beyond enhancing web page printing, HP Print AI optimises spreadsheet outputs to keep charts and tables intact on a single page. Users can also create personalised greeting cards through conversational prompts, allowing them to incorporate custom styles and fonts. Additionally, the technology can upscale images and remove unwanted objects from photos, further enriching the printing experience.

HP plans to roll out additional features for Print AI through 2025, although details on compatible printers are still pending. While users anticipate these upgrades, the inclusion of a chat interface may offer a more interactive way to address common printing frustrations, enhancing the overall experience with HP printers.

Meta to expand investment in Vietnam

Vietnam’s President To Lam met with leading US firms in New York, pledging to strengthen the domestic tech sector. Discussions focused on boosting Vietnam’s digital transformation and enhancing strategic industries like AI and semiconductors. The Vietnamese president also held talks with major companies including Apple, Blackstone, and Warburg Pincus.

Meta, which already has millions of Facebook users in Vietnam, committed to increasing its investment in the country. Plans include expanding virtual reality production in Vietnam, signalling a stronger presence in the nation’s tech landscape. Meta’s Nick Clegg expressed confidence in Vietnam’s digital potential.

During Lam’s visit, cooperation agreements with US firms were signed. These agreements cover various sectors such as energy, artificial intelligence, and a new data centre initiative, further solidifying ties between the two nations.

The Vietnamese government emphasised that digital transformation will be key to future economic growth. Lam reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to advancing the tech economy and fostering innovation through international collaboration.

AI could raise inflation short term, warns Bank of Canada governor

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem has said that businesses adopting AI could create short-term inflationary pressures by increasing demand. Speaking at an AI conference in Toronto, he noted that while AI-driven productivity growth may benefit the economy in the long run, its immediate effects could add to inflation.

Macklem pointed to rising electricity demand from new data centres as an example of AI’s economic impact. He emphasised that central bankers are working to understand how AI will affect the economy, inflation, and employment. Despite concerns, there is no current evidence that AI displaces labour at a level that would significantly impact overall employment rates.

The Bank of Canada has begun using AI to improve economic forecasting, data analysis, and efficiency, though its application is still in the early stages. Macklem compared the central bank’s cautious approach to AI to cautiously entering a dark room, feeling the way forward before making decisions.

Canada has also introduced a Voluntary Code of Conduct for the responsible development of generative AI systems. Macklem underlined that while AI offers potential benefits, it brings challenges and uncertainties that require careful management by policymakers.