Need to Know
21 : 10 : 19

Eindhoven – The project explores how we can train machine-learning algorithms to become more emotional.

In her project Still Life, Vera van der Burg trains a speculative algorithm with a highly subjective set of rules to emulate a human understanding of objects. These algorithms ambiguously learn from patterns in large data sets and interpret a still life photograph through emotional values such as love, jealousy and seduction.

With AI becoming more pervasive in changing human behaviour, consumers are becoming more inquisitive about the ethics powering our data systems. In a similar vein to Trevor Paglen’s From ‘Apple’ to ‘Anomaly’ (Pictures and Labels) exhibition, Van der Burg explores how machine-learning systems are biased by the programmers behind them. In a statement about how self-learning algorithms are often a reflection of their subjective values, the object-recognition algorithm in Still Life is a reflection of Van der Burg and her tastes.

To learn more about algorithmic ethics and how to use design cues to harness machine-learning systems, read our Morality Recoded macrotrend.

Copenhagen – The fully recyclable Green Fibre Bottle is made from sustainably sourced wood fibres.

During the C40 World Mayors Summit in Copenhagen, the Carlsberg Group unveiled two new research prototypes of the bottle. While the outer packaging is made from sustainably sourced wood fibres, each has an inner barrier to allow the bottles to contain beer. One prototype uses a thin recycled PET polymer film barrier while the other uses a 100% bio-based PEF polymer.

The prototypes will be used to test the barrier technology as Carlsberg seeks to achieve its ambition of a 100% bio-based bottle without polymers. ‘While we are not completely there yet, the two prototypes are an important step towards realising our ultimate ambition of bringing this breakthrough to market,’ says Myriam Shingleton, vice-president of group development at Carlsberg. ‘Innovation takes time and we will continue to collaborate with leading experts in order to overcome remaining technical challenges.’

Carlsberg is just one brand responding to environmental concerns with material innovations that re-invent bottled drinks.

Own-brand products are booming in the US market, according to a new report by Coresight Research. The study found that annual sales growth of private-label consumer products accelerated from 2.2% in 2015 to 5.8% in 2018, growing faster than national brand sales by a factor of four.

According to the report, Target and Kroger recently stepped up their game in private-label goods, competing with the likes of Aldi, Lidl and Amazon. ‘The presence of grocery discounters such as Aldi and Lidl has a meaningful impact on private label’s share of a country’s overall CPG market,’ the report states.

The concept of Accessible Premium is permeating in the US, as consumers reject big-name brands in favour of inexpensive, brandless alternatives.