Trump's Influence on Brand Activism, MIT's Computational Antibodies, Rise of MadTech, Storytelling Ethics, AgiBot's Giant Leap, and Elsevier's AI
Stanislas Berteloot
Marketing & Communications Executive: Driving Growth with Purpose | Global Marketing & Communications Executive | 20+ Yrs Blending Journalism, AI & Sales-Marketing Alignment | MedTech Innovator | Strategic Coaching
Today is January 3, 2025 - here is what we are covering.
Experts suggest that the future of brand activism may shift with Trump's second term. Many companies are anticipated to roll back on social and progressive messaging due to increasing political pressures. Walmart recently reduced its DE&I initiatives, possibly indicating a trend among major brands. An Edelman report shows consumers influencing brands through purchases, yet many don’t believe businesses should take political stances. Some, like Ben & Jerry’s, pledge continued activism, while right-wing pressures and financial limitations press others to stay silent.
Meanwhile, advancements in medicine,
MIT researchers have developed a computational model that predicts antibody structures more accurately by using large language models. This advancement focuses on modeling the hypervariable regions of antibodies, which are traditionally challenging due to their variability. The technique could significantly aid in sifting through millions of antibodies to identify potential drug candidates for diseases like COVID-19. Preliminary tests show this model has a higher accuracy in predicting antibody binding strengths compared to traditional methods. This could lead to more efficient drug development.
Switching gears to digital innovation,
In the evolving digital marketing arena, the lines between Adtech and Martech are increasingly blurred, resulting in a MadTech hybrid. Adtech primarily focuses on automating and optimizing digital advertising efforts, precisely targeting specific audiences to enhance conversion. Martech, on the other hand, is dedicated to improving customer relationships, automating marketing processes, and enhancing the entire user experience. Both fields heavily rely on data-driven insights and automation, leveraging AI to deliver personalized content and advertising. As privacy regulations tighten, companies must integrate Adtech and Martech strategies to create customized experiences while safeguarding consumer privacy.
On a creative front,
The world of literature is currently captivated by a unique theme: the nature and ethics of storytelling. A myriad of contemporary novels and plays are exploring literary imitation, appropriation, and theft as central plot points. The increase in stories about storytelling highlights anxieties surrounding originality and authorship, especially with technology like A.I. entering the narrative creation space. Jean Hanff Korelitz’s "The Plot" and Ayad Akhtar's play "McNeal" are prime examples of satire and introspection regarding cultural appropriation in storytelling. These works suggest that the essence of storytelling remains elusive and ever-evolving.
Turning to robotics,
AgiBot, a leading robotics startup, has released the largest-ever humanoid manipulation dataset. Named "AgiBot World," this dataset is designed to advance robotic learning for general-purpose applications. It includes foundational models, standardized benchmarks, and collaborative frameworks to enhance robotic intelligence. With over 1 million unique trajectories and 100 real-world scenarios, it addresses major limitations in existing robotic benchmarks. AgiBot aims to democratize access to high-quality data, marking a significant leap toward adaptive, multi-agent robotic systems.
And closing with controversy,
Editors of the Journal of Human Evolution resigned, criticizing Elsevier's use of AI in production. They cited AI errors, high author fees, and loss of editorial independence. The mass resignation highlights ongoing issues in scientific publishing regarding profit-focused changes. Notably, Elsevier's AI use allegedly altered submitted work, raising ethical concerns. This movement echoes broader calls for fair practices and transparency in academic publishing.
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