YouTube videos are using a mix of AI-generated and manipulated media to create fake content with disinformation about dozens of Black celebrities, NBC News reports. Diddy-related Fake News Many of the videos found include figures such as Sean “Diddy” Combs, TV host Steve Harvey, actor Denzel Washington, and Bishop TD Jakes. They have pushed fake narratives that stem from recent lawsuits against Combs. Other videos have implicated figures like Jakes in the allegations against Combs without evidence and used manipulated media to depict the celebrities engaging in lewd acts. NBC
UK-based Black-owned platform Sojo has become the first fashion repairs and alterations platform to achieve B Corp certification. Certified B Corps are companies verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. The B Corp Community is a global movement of businesses that provide leadership by demonstrating their commitment to people and the planet. There are over 7,800 B Corps worldwide, across 161 industries in 92 countries, with over 708,300 workers. Sojo achieved 86.8 points, above the B Corp pass mark of 80 and
Commercial real estate business owner and broker Dustin Sutton is creating a technology to benefit golfers. Sutton’s vision is to create augmented reality (AR) — enhanced smart glasses — designed and tailored for golfers through his company, RangEZ, Inc. According to the San Diego Business Journal, Sutton said the company, which is less than a year old, aims to launch its first product by the end of 2024. “Over the past seven months, this journey has transformed from a mere idea into a tangible pursuit,” he said. RangEZ Smart Glasses RangEZ smart glasses
The ALIVE Podcast Network has partnered with Barometer to revolutionize monetization opportunities for Black creators and media owners. The ALIVE Podcast Network is the first Black woman-owned podcast network to develop proprietary technology to amplify Black voices while ensuring creators retain ownership of their content. Barometer is an AI-powered platform for contextual targeting and brand suitability in audio advertising. Stereotypes About Black Content Brand suitability and safety technologies have been known to play an essential role in safeguarding advertisers. However, they have long been associated with disproportionately impacting creators from diverse backgrounds. For example,
In a striking turn of events, the renowned rapper Snoop Dogg’s ad campaign for Solo Stove backfired, resulting in the exit of the company’s CEO, John Merris. The campaign, which cleverly hinted at Snoop Dogg giving up smoking, ultimately failed to boost sales as expected. The “Smokeless” Campaign In a bold marketing move, Solo Brands aired a commercial in which Snoop Dogg announced he was “giving up smoke,” leading many to believe he was quitting his well-known affinity for weed. However, the ad was a clever ruse for Solo Stove,
Music artist will.i.am and Mercedes-Benz have launched MBUX Sound Drive – a new technology linking drivers’ music to how they drive. Connecting motion and melody Mercedes announced its latest state-of-the-art technology, which uses software that allows music to react to how the car is being driven, creating a relationship between the motion and the melody. MBUX Sound Drive interprets various driving dynamics – such as recuperation, acceleration, steering, and braking – and converts them into musical expressions. The new venture will launch this summer in Mercedes-Benz’s electric EQ models, will.i.am
Two minority-owned platforms, TripleLift and Reset Digital, have partnered to help advertisers achieve their diverse spending goals, increasing diverse representation across the programmatic ecosystem. In 2023, an ANA survey found that the media and advertising community had shown more interest in supporting diverse suppliers over the past year. However, there is still a gap between intent to spend with diverse suppliers and actual spending. TripleLift and Reset Digital’s partnership aims to change that. Supporting diverse suppliers in the ad industry TripleLift, founded by Eric Berry, Ari Lewine, and Shaun Zachariais,
Several celebrities, including Quavo, Lil Wayne, Alberto Pujols, and Robert Griffin III, have invested in the Proto platform and its hologram device. Proto delivers a lifelike holographic experience, so viewers see, hear, and interact with others anywhere in the world. It’s the world’s first holographic communications platform with an end-to-end system for creating, managing, delivering, and playback interactive hologram content. Proto Hologram Proto is best known for being the Los Angeles-based provider of a patented hologram device. It is a platform that makes holoportation a reality in enterprise, entertainment, education,
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of The Notorious B.I.G.’s debut single “Juicy”, Warner Music Group (WMG) has collaborated with The Sandbox, a leading decentralized gaming virtual world. Together, they are bringing the iconic hip-hop artist to life in today’s virtual world through the Metaverse experience “Breakin’ B.I.G.” as a nod to the beloved side-scrolling games of the 1990s. Breakin’ B.I.G. Notorious B.I.G. released his debut album “Ready to Die” 30 years ago, which featured the song Juicy, selling 6 million copies and is widely regarded as one of the greatest
Many of us have kickstarted 2024 with goals for the new year. These goals range from learning more about our finances and getting fit to prioritizing our wellbeing or simply reading more. We have compiled a list of some Black-owned apps that may help you on your way! Prioritize Your Wellbeing – Exhale Black founder Katara McCarty launched her app, Exhale, in 2020 after struggling to find an app suited to Black women’s wellbeing. Exhale is the first emotional wellbeing app for Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color (BIWOC). The app coaches users through
