News 25.07.2023

Need to Know

Kili’s new identity shows the human side of AI, the world’s first flying car passes its first milestone and why Australian consumers buying alcohol online are over 36 years old.

Ragged Edge develops humanised branding for AI platform Kili

Kill by Ragged Edge, France ​

France, US – Artificial intelligence is friend, not foe. This is the message that AI training company Kili hopes to convey with its warm and human-like refreshed brand identity.

Since its foundation in 2018, Kili has been helping businesses apply human expertise to tech, training AI to create high-quality and unbiased data sets. Conscious that for many, AI is synonymous with hostility and suspicion, the French company enlisted Ragged Edge for a rebranding. Together, they chose to create a friendly and unintimidating mascot to embody artificial intelligence. The strategy behind this move was not only to humanise AI via the cartoonish animated mascot, accessible UI and warm colour palette. The aim was also to encourage positive and empathetic AI sentiment, rooted in pragmatic expertise instead of science fiction.

‘The rebranding recognises that we have a lot to gain from AI. But first AI has a lot to learn from us,’ says Max Ottignon, co-founder of Ragged Edge. ‘In an industry marked by its soulless hyperbole, we built Kili around something more grounded: good data and human intelligence.’ At LS:N Global, we have been monitoring the spread of AI Optimistic mindsets and the mavericks trying to weave emotions into the technology.

Strategic Opportunity

Although the AI revolution is under way, it would be inaccurate to say that AI doesn’t need a publicist. Companies in that space have a role to play in easing its adoption, creating safe guidelines and boosting AI’s emotional intelligence

World’s first flying car receives FAA certification

ALEF, US ALEF, US

US – The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded a special airworthiness certificate to Alef Aeronautics’ Armada Model Zero, making it the world’s first real flying car to be FAA-certified for public flight demonstrations. This prototype electric car can transform from driving to flying by taking off vertically with its integrated eight rotors, eliminating the need for a lengthy runway.

The Armada Model Zero, a precursor to the upcoming Model A prototype, features a carbon fibre frame with a passenger cabin that can fit up to two people. Once in the air, the vehicle’s frame rotates 90 degrees so that the front and the back of the car become two wings on either side of the cabin for maximum speed.

Certification from the FAA ‘allows the company to move closer to bringing people an environmentally friendly and faster commute, saving individuals and companies hours each week,’ says Alef Aeronautics CEO Jim Dukhovny. The potential of petrol-free flying cars aligns with our insights in The Future of Urban Mobility Lies in Sustainability report.

The company aims to begin production and deliveries of the Model A by the end of 2025, with pre-orders starting at £233,655 ($300,000, €270,490).

Strategic opportunity

With both Volkswagen and Klein Vision also working on flying car models, it is evident that this futuristic vision could soon become a reality. From interior design to auto-entertainment, consider how your goods and services can adapt to a new kind of vehicle and driving experience in the air

Stat: 36–55-year-olds in Australia most likely to buy alcohol online

Beck’s Brewery, Brazil Beck’s Brewery, Brazil

Australia – Released in July 2023, the Online Alcohol Sales and Delivery in Australia report suggests the critical targets for online alcohol purchases are not the youngest consumers. Published by Frontier Economics and commissioned by Retail Drinks Australia, the report analysed millions of real-time transactions from retailers, marketplaces and delivery partners nationwide. Contrary to popular belief, the results showed that the primary users of online alcohol websites in Australia are aged between 36 and 55. Those older Millennial and Gen X consumers also spend more money when buying than younger demographics.

There is a growing misperception that online purchasing is fuelling a generation of tech-savvy liquor-consuming Millennials. But this report debunks such myths with empirical evidence, says Michael Waters, CEO of Retail Drinks Australia. Rather than relying on extrapolations from anecdotes or sample surveys, this exhaustive research reveals that consumers only use online purchase and delivery a couple of times a year; the vast majority are comfortable receiving their products in the days after placing their orders, and it is mostly used by people aged over 35.

Another key conclusion of the report is that online alcohol sales are less popular than traditional in-store shopping experiences. Nationwide data shows that most people still prefer the traditional in-store experience, with online purchases representing just 13% of all retail liquor transactions, although there are signs of growth, says Waters.

In Youth Culture is Entering its Flat Age Future, we previously analysed how the digital divide between generations born with the internet and older consumers has evolved – elderly people are now online and tech-savvy enough to become TikTok influencers in their 60s.

Strategic opportunity

As drinking among young people declines in many high-income countries and social media platforms continue to restrict the promotion of content featuring alcohol, drink e-tailers should consider how to invest in better UX, CRM tools and loyalty programmes to retain and attract new Gen X and older Millennial consumers

Previous News Articles
Natural Material Studio crafts decorative wall panels from brewery waste

News

Natural Material Studio crafts decorative wall panels from brewery waste

At Copenhagen Airport, a unique design element stands out in the Åben brewery restaurant: swirly panels crafted from spent grain, a by-product of b...
Food & Drink : Sustainability : Design
Stella McCartney and Veuve Clicquot create leather from grape waste

News

Stella McCartney and Veuve Clicquot create leather from grape waste

Stella McCartney and Veuve Clicquot have introduced a limited-edition collection of bags and bottle accessories made from a grape-based alternative...
Sustainability : Fashion : Luxury
Foresight Friday: Gabriela Białkowska, creative foresight analyst

News

Foresight Friday: Gabriela Białkowska, creative foresight analyst

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, creative foresight analys...
Foresight : Gaming : Technology
Stat: AI is high on fashion executives’ agenda for 2024

News

Stat: AI is high on fashion executives’ agenda for 2024

In the aftermath of generative AI’s explosive growth, the fashion industry is set for a transformative 2024 as executives look to harness the poten...
AI : Fashion : Technology
Flexibility defines Today Design’s Melbourne office

News

Flexibility defines Today Design’s Melbourne office

In the heart of Collingwood, Melbourne, digital agency Today Design has transformed a 900-square-metre area within a 12-storey block into a hub of ...
Design : Sustainability : Workplace
Youth movement Flor champions nature and biodiversity

News

Youth movement Flor champions nature and biodiversity

Bringing today’s hyper-connected youth closer to nature is no small feat. Youth organisation Flor has made the challenge of getting young people in...
Youth : Design : Society
Aesop blends tradition and modernity with music-inspired gift kits

News

Aesop blends tradition and modernity with music-inspired gift kits

Australian cosmetics brand Aesop is ringing in the holiday season with a unique blend of tradition and modernity.
Packaging : Design : Beauty
Stat: US teens are more price-conscious when choosing a university

News

Stat: US teens are more price-conscious when choosing a university

Scared by big student debt and high prices, US students are becoming more price-sensitive when it comes to higher education.
Education : Finance : Youth
Bacardi and The Future Laboratory unveil 2024 Cocktail Trends Report

News

Bacardi and The Future Laboratory unveil 2024 Cocktail Trends Report

Bacardi, in collaboration with The Future Laboratory, unveiled its fifth annual Cocktail Trends Report in December 2023. The research draws on insi...
Drink : Alcohol : Spirits
Balmain introduces hyper-realistic virtual try-ons powered by Bods

News

Balmain introduces hyper-realistic virtual try-ons powered by Bods

From the runway to the avatar realm, luxury house Balmain has called on fashion-fit technology company Bods to create a next-level virtual try-on t...
Fashion : Luxury : Technology
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN

What do we use cookies for?

We use cookies to enable the use of our platform’s paid features and to analyse our traffic. No personal data, including your IP address, is stored and we do not sell data to third parties.

Learn more