Jason Steinberg

🚀 **The Future of the Internet is Spatial!** Roblox is redefining digital spaces, proving the future of the internet is more immersive than ever. With over 78.8M daily active users, Roblox is expanding beyond gaming into social communication, shopping, and entertainment. Key takeaways: - **Growing Audience:** Gen Z and Gen Alpha are making Roblox their go-to media platform, marking a pivotal moment for brands. - **Brand Activations:** With over 400 brand activations, companies are recognizing Roblox's potential in digital commerce. The spatial internet is here, and Roblox is leading the way. Expect more growth and innovation as brands and advertisers embrace this shift. #SpatialInternet #Roblox #DigitalTransformation #GenZ #GenAlpha #FutureOfTech

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Get the full breakdown on Orion Glasses: key features, specs, and what sets them apart in the XR space. Everything you need to know is here:https://lnkd.in/e9zNnAgA

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Don’t underestimate the power of immersive environments for entertainment, shopping and work. The next 12 months will see a LOT of us entering these worlds. You might think it’s just video game bullshit, but you probably also thought Facebook was just a different way to send a text/email - and we all know how that turned out. If you’re interested in learning more about how you, your family and your business will be disrupted by immersive computing and AI, I’d be happy to talk. I have teams spanning web3 from softgood production, ecommerce, 3D animation, 3D content, NFTs, and connecting people with web3 experts. Have you started playing in web3? Or are you sitting back and waiting until Google , Apple , Meta and Microsoft make you?

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Let’s give them something to talk about. Let’s design experiences that turn audiences into active participants. How? By co-creating with influencers, engage fanbases through puzzles, rewards, and immersive storytelling. It’s fun for them. It’s impactful for brands. That’s what we do. We play. Learn all about Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) 👇🏻

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You remember this Spider-Man drawing meme from a few years back? https://lnkd.in/gXwXApdd You know, the one that shows the level of quality you get when you give an artist 10 minutes vs. 1 minute vs. 10 seconds? I remember when it started doing the rounds, a lot of creative types used it as an example of how much worse their work is when it's rushed vs. when they get enough time to truly ideate. What's funny is, this isn't even the best depiction of that. Imagine instead if you started by giving someone 10 seconds to draw a *brand new* superhero — one that doesn't already exist. My guess is the result would go something like "Uhhhmmmmm.... I dunnnoo.... (hastily scribbles rough silhouette with a cape)". Then give them 1 min and watch more detail get added. And then 10 and watch really rich character and story elements emerge. I see this a lot in organizations that put a premium on sprints and MVPs. It's one thing to put time constraints on refinement, evolution and optimization of an idea. It's another to rush the ideation itself. That's typically not a good recipe for innovation, since (as my example illustrates) when people are rushed, they tend to regurgitate/replicate the familiar. There is something to be said for putting some time constraints on ideation as a generative exercise. And when facilitated with a focus on lateral connections sparking new combinations, there is a way to hack novelty at pace. But often the main value is in getting all the obvious ideas out of the way, and getting the gears turning in the back of brains to let time do its work of mental marination. Then the real gems that team members can't stop thinking about can be prototyped/MVP'd/etc. Have you seen rapid ideation produce novel concepts (in product, comms, org design, etc.)? Or has it tended to churn out ideas that feel like replications/regurgitations, logical/linear progressions and slight incremental improvements on what already exists? #innovation #creativity #ideation #agile #mvp #prototyping #poc

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Meta creating Orion, a pair of AR-enabled glasses is one of the most exciting product developments that I've seen in a while and you can't even buy them yet. Yes, Snap Inc. has Spectacles but they look even more ridiculous and Meta's Orion offers true augmented reality. As someone who talks about my love of my Meta Ray-Bans to anyone who will listen so much so that they should be paying me an affiliate fee, the holy grail next iteration would be an AR-enabled pair to provide useful overlaid information over our real world to supercharge how we experience the physical world vs. replacing the physical world with a virtual one. KEY difference. But, as I don't have an Orion to test (though am here for it Meta), I am going to tell you what the ultimate game changer device for me and function would be... ...and that's what we call a cliffhanger friends. Anyways, my guess is that their product, codenamed HyperNova, is the next edition of the Meta Raybans hopefully with a built in light weight AR experience on board and I say YES and YES. 👏🏆🥇 And while asking for a recipe based on what it sees and making a video call is cute, here's what I want Meta. You got your pen? I'm currently on a plane back from ADWEEK Brandweek and mentioned this to a senior executive on site to which he responded, "game changer." I want the Ray Ban form factor (not the bulky Orion one) with AR that solves a significant problem for every busy executive: Who am I talking to? Overlaid AR information showing me the name (which I imagine could be gleaned from LinkedIn data as I have seen a prototype for this in a bulky headset in NYC) and even better, a synopsis enabled via AI of the last conversation I had with that person and any next steps. 🔥 BOOM. Make that. GO! As a disclaimer, I do realize that making the above work is no simple task which is why I refer to it as the holy grail. I want AR on board which deepens my experience of the real world around me, including information about places I'm seeing and the people as well. More about Meta's Orion here: https://lnkd.in/gwFT-szu Alex Heath from The Verge 's Review: https://lnkd.in/gHkbS22i PLEASE NOTE: The photo below is of the Meta Ray Bans NOT Meta Orion as I'm talking about what I want from THIS form factor. #ar #sunglasses #glasses #meta

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We do talk a lot about Roblox as a model of platform mixing #social, #gaming, #creatoreconomy. One of the best example of a #metaverse. This article from Matthew Ball is complete and a deep-dive into the business model of this phenomenon. Really insightful - from R&D to accounting to engagement to revenue potential. https://lnkd.in/emmYmGyh

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Before heading into the weekend, here’s what’s “Top of Mind” for me this week in industry news: Read: To promote next month’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” release among younger consumers, Warner Bros. partnered with Roblox for a first-of-its-kind, in-game Fandango box office. Roblox continues to be the online gaming platform of choice for consumer marketing efforts thanks to its juxtaposition of culture and commerce. https://lnkd.in/e6nK-rEr Think: Following strong ratings for this year’s Olympics broadcasts, NBC’s Peacock is hoping it can keep – and bring in new – subscribers. Will the platform’s wide range of content be enough to keep viewers signing on? https://lnkd.in/eDcnarUS Know: Pitbull is making history with the renaming of FIU’s football stadium as “Pitbull Stadium.” As the “Official Entrepreneur of FIU Athletics,” the partnership represents a creative embodiment of Pitbull’s “Mr. 305” brand. https://lnkd.in/efpt7Agr

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The Main Event 97: The AI New Feature Race! When Black Forest Labs released Flux as an open-source program, the next thing you knew, everybody was touting they had Flux! When Luma Dream Machine started using still images for the first and last frame, it wasn’t long before Pica 2.0 announced the ability to use 2 reference images to appear together in the same video. Not long after Musavir added a consistent avatar, Midjourney announced creating character consistency. Then, Pimento announced that you could create a model library with a suggested 4 to 12 images or do the same to create a style model—funny, Midjourney announced Moodboards! We are anticipating that when Midjourney 7 comes out, they will have video capabilities. In the meantime, Sora was finally made available, and a couple of days later, their thunder was quieted by Google Veo-2 intro showing outstanding physics for gravity, water, wind, and object collision! (Still waiting, Google, for our access, please!) And Rubbrband Movie was launched a couple weeks ago featuring models from Kling, Runway, Tencent Hunyuan, Luma, Haiper, MiniMax where you can generate and edit all in one place. I guess you would say competition is a good thing, but keeping up with it all and trying them out—when do you sleep? Please join us on January 10th at 12:00 pm EST and share your thoughts on all this! We want to hear from you and find out how you’re dealing with so many possibilities! Here's the link to the Main Event 97 page: https://lnkd.in/eA_RnCMf

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Just in time for the #WorldSeries-- Roblox users can now show off their team spirit on their avatars. Official Major League Baseball (MLB) team jerseys from all 30 teams are now available for purchase in our marketplace! Sports fandom lives on Roblox and wearing your team’s apparel is a key form of self-expression for fans. According to #GWI insights: ⚾ Half of Roblox users play sports video games with low duplication with some of the most popular titles. ⚾ Roblox users are 40% more likely than the average sports fan to have bought an official jersey in the last 6 months Thank you to Jamie Leece, Jason Schreiber, Paul Crockett at #MLB for bringing their teams to Roblox. Happy that now all fans can support their teams from the stands, their couch and the virtual world! #futureofsports #sportsmarketing #worldseries2024 #majorleaguebaseball #yankees #dodgers #immersivemarketing #genzmarketing #genz #fandomforthefuture

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Y'all, Lars let me vent about #metadata on his podcast! It's the next best thing to me nerding out to you IRL on all my metadata gripes. Give it a listen and let me know your metadata gripes below!

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Warner Bros Discovery (or DiscoBros as Evan Shapīro calls them) may not be doing 'awesome'. But the "The World Is Just Awesome" promo, still is. In 2008, Discovery Channel launched a promo campaign (thanks to 72andSunny) that would become one of the most memorable in TV history: "The World Is Just Awesome," also known as the "Boom De Yada" campaign. What made it work? Emotional Resonance: The campaign tapped into a sense of wonder and joy about the world, aligning perfectly with Discovery's brand essence. Catchy and Shareable: The simple, repetitive tune was easy to remember and sing along to, making it highly shareable in the early days of social media. Inclusivity: By featuring a diverse cast of Discovery personalities and viewers, the promo created a sense of community among the audience. Brand Reinforcement: While entertaining, the promo subtly showcased Discovery's wide range of programming. Adaptability: The campaign's format allowed for easy updates and variations over the years, keeping it fresh. Applying these principles today: Emotional Storytelling: In an age of content overload, promos that evoke genuine emotion still cut through the noise. Social Media Optimization: Create promo elements that are easily shareable across platforms. Community Building: Involve your audience and talent in campaigns to foster a sense of belonging. Flexible Formats: Design campaigns that can evolve with your programming and audience preferences. Authenticity: Stay true to your brand's core values and mission in your promotional efforts. The "Boom De Yada" campaign reminds us that sometimes, the most effective promos are those that make us feel something. In today's fragmented media landscape, creating that emotional connection is more important than ever. #ClassicTVPromos #MarketingHistory #PromotionalStrategies #EntertainmentNostalgia

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Hey Bay Area! In 2010, the Warriors started on a journey to transform from a basketball team into a larger sports media and entertainment company. Learn how the organization is reshaping its IT and data operations as well as redefining how it delivers digital experiences for its fans. #GoogleCloud #FanExperiences #genAI

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The Autonomous Vehicle Race Heats Up! 🚗 AI and Robotics are hot, and this week, the AV industry, which brings both technology practices together, saw significant strides from Cruise, Waymo, and Zoox. Here’s a quick rundown: Cruise resumed testing in Dallas after a hiatus. Waymo expanded its service area by 90 square miles in Metro Phoenix. Zoox gears up for testing in Austin and Miami. The self-driving technology landscape is more competitive and innovative than ever. As advancements in AI and Robotics roll out and become more accessible and available, these companies are pushing the boundaries, and as a result, the future of autonomous transport looks promising! Today I dove deeper on my blog: https://lnkd.in/eaiixKiR #AutonomousVehicles #SelfDrivingCars #Innovation #TechNews #FutureOfTransport Bob Christopher Darius Roberts James Richey Jason I. Soto Jamie Schwartz Elizabeth Lopez, MBA Zachary Miles, Esq. Miles Lee Joshua Leavitt Joshua Benedetti Kenny Eliason Jeff Pulver Evan Kirstel B2B TechFluencer Rich Tehrani Om Malik Ted Larson Peter Csathy

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Minecraft’s unique mix of open-world creativity and quirky gameplay has kept it popular for over a decade. Now, an AI-powered version called Oasis is bringing a strange new twist to the mix. It uses an AI model that generates each video frame in real time based on user actions and previous frames. The result? A game world that constantly shifts and morphs in surreal and unexpected ways. Textures change at a glance, landscapes shift mysteriously, and you might even find yourself in bizarre environments that defy logic. This AI-driven approach to gaming opens doors to entirely new game mechanics and experiences, pushing boundaries in creativity, design, and interactivity. #AI #Gaming #GenerativeAI #Innovation #TechTrends

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When Fans Rewrite the Narrative: Monster Hunter Wilds' is a….."Dating Sim"? I am playing the amazing Monster Hunter Wilds open beta right now. Not only am I having a great time (my processor is not..) but I noticed something unusual with this community. Capcom’s latest installment in the Monster Hunter series revealed its new characters last week, including Gemma the Smithy—a character who’s made such an impression on fans that players have apparently tagged the game as a “Dating Sim” on Steam. If you don’t know how Steam tags work, players can actually “tag” a game's genre and it seems enough of them are smitten with Gemma to have Dating Sim be the 5th most popular tag for the game. Although Monster Hunter Wilds is neither a dating sim nor offers romance mechanics, it shows how a character with just seconds of screen time can spark imagination and engagement among fans. Gemma, who debuted briefly in a trailer during PlayStation’s State of Play, has fans swooning over her as much as they are interested in hunting monsters. As the smithy character responsible for players’ weapon and armor needs, Gemma has inspired a surge of fan art and posts, turning a short introduction into a wave of social media interest. This phenomenon highlights a fascinating trend: fans' enthusiasm and creativity can sometimes redefine a game’s identity. It’s a reminder to game developers of the immense value in character design and storytelling—even minor characters can create viral marketing and word of mouth.

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AI capabilities are proliferating. Now text to video with sound.

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Keep an eye on Rembrand, a digital platform using AI to add virtual product placement into videos. They just raised $23 million from savvy investors like Tom Chavez and others. The concept is relatively simple and has been around for a while, but the company is definitely getting some traction. Rembrand began with YouTube and expanded to LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram. They’ve also worked with about 20 brands including those under PepsiCo, L'Oréal, and Amazon. The company is led by CEO Omar Tawakol, who has great startup experience. He sold data management platform BlueKai to Oracle in 2014 and voice collaboration platform Voicea to Cisco in 2019. It’s another intriguing use of AI and video, and it gives advertisers another weapon in their arsenal as they monetize content. What other uses of AI advertising have you seen that impresses you?

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