Sometimes sleep doesn't come easy. Waking up well before the birds this morning thinking about OpenAI's proposed app store for AI, I decided to grab my laptop and write. Yes, I need a life, as everyone on the WTE team pointed out this morning after I shared my wake-up and write story, but sometimes writing creates an irresistible urge. I don't know if I was dreaming about Arthur C. Clark's Three Laws or what, but they popped into my sleep-deprived brain:
Law One: When a distinguished but elderly scientist states something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he says that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
Law Two: The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to venture past them into the impossible.
Law Three: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming our lives, from business operations to personal activities. AI models, generative AI, and AI software such as ChatGPT are quickly changing everything, but there are many “elderly scientists” stating why AI is impossible too.
Forbes Beyond The Hype explains one part of the human acceptance of generative AI:
AI is here today, embedded everywhere in the world around us. You might be one of the many who don’t even realize it – a survey a few years back found that while 84% of us were using AI daily, only 34% knew they were using it. But when you’re shopping online, searching the internet, ordering food deliveries, hailing a ride, navigating from place to place, or enjoying music and movies, you’re probably using AI.
Yes, ChatGPT was the fastest application to gain 100M users, but awareness and usage are daily despotic tyrannies. Is ChatGPT and ChatGPT Plus getting used more or less today, tomorrow, and the next day? Are developers using the OpenAI APIs in the “playground” to wow the next generation of always-demanding, never satisfied users?
AI faces two awareness challenges. First, large language models and chatbots used by Amazon, Microsoft, SalesForce, Google, and others are so human-like they quickly fade into the background creating an awareness disparity where 84% use AI, but only 34% understand what's happening. Secondly, the laggards that haunt acceptance of any new technology continue to hound acceptance and awareness with stories of how llms will end the world, how AI is more hype than reality, and other head-in-the-sand pronouncements, threats, and spells. I just thought of the witches in MacBeth (remember, I'm half asleep).
First Witch When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain? Second Witch When the hurly-burly’s done, When the battle’s lost and won. Third Witch That will be ere the set of sun.
When the hurly-burly's done, ChatGPT and other AI tools you, me, and everyone we know will discover at OpenAI's new marketplace will change what we think, buy, and believe. It's official I'm tired now, and it isn't even ten o'clock. I'll turn the music UP so I don't fall asleep at my desk since that picture would surely go viral.
Use links below if you want to discover more about why you should steal crowdsourcing as a digital marketing strategy and find ways to ask for and reward user-generated content. Don't wait for the Hurly-burly to be done because acting when there is a lot of hurly and even more burly describes one of the best ways to make money online.
Email your thoughts, ideas for how to stay asleep, and what you think about Sam's coming AI marketplace to martin (at) wte.net.
Thanks, Martin
The Apple Store transformed the way consumers purchase technology. With its innovative retail experience, Apple altered consumers' expectations and set new benchmarks for competitors. Here is how Apple's aspirational stores changed how we think, buy, and interact with technology and other products smart enough to steal from Apple:
Education and Aspiration as a Retail Experience Apple Stores are more than places to buy products; they've become spaces for interaction, discovery, and learning. The open, spacious, and minimalistic store design allows consumers to touch, use, and experience Apple's products in a comfortable, pressure-free environment. This highly experiential approach has become a benchmark for other technology retailers and has reshaped the retail landscape. Today, buyers want to be involved and engaged, willing to trade their most valuable resources - their time and money - to enter a Khan Academy-like store to discover and create a better version of themselves.
Genius Bar's Teacher Employees Apple hires employees based on their people skills rather than their sales ability. The staff gets trained to educate, assist, and provide the information customers need rather than upsell, fostering a customer-centric environment. The Genius Bar, which offers in-store technical support and repairs, has also become a cornerstone of the Apple Store experience, enhancing customer loyalty, acceptance, and awareness. Go fast and break things is Silicon Valley's mantra. Still, the only way new technology's magic can influence and inspire the majority is if it works, is easy to buy and understand, and our shock of the new fears are eased by friendly tech geeks in black t-shirts quickly repairing the black boxes our lives depend on.
Product Display and Demonstration Apple displays working models of each device, and boxes exist with the great and powerful Oz hiding behind the curtain and only appear after your credit card clears. This 'experience before you buy' approach helps consumers interact with and learn from products in real time and real life, so our purchasing decisions become experiential, informed, and educated. The "experience and educate first" trend is now common in technology and electronics stores, with hybrid models getting adopted in how retailers sell any aspirational product, from purses to booze.
Education and Community Engagement Apple Stores host workshops, tutorials, and events, educating customers about their products and building a community. These value-added services extend the relationship between Apple and its customers beyond the point of sale, reinforcing brand loyalty and pathing the way for new products such as Apple's fintech experiments (offering high-interest rates on savings to Apple card holders) and Apple Vision Pro, the company's new AR/VR goggles.
Unifying The Online and Offline Sales Experience Apple's seamless integration of its crowdsourced online app store and physical and online retail defines omnichannel retailing. Customers can browse and reserve products online, then pick them up in-store; purchases at the store or online prompt new purchases of other Apple products even as personalizing with plugins, apps, and software starts the cycle over again. This strategy provides a unified, convenient shopping experience that caters to the demanding mob's need for flexibility.
Since AI is indistinguishable from magic, AI Chatbots need an engaging place OpenAI's customers can discover their best selves by using, buying, personalizing, and sharing AI use cases, plugins, and applications. Let's look at how Apple's App Store helped revolutionize and demystify what we expect from the technology we buy
New Distribution Channel Before the App Store, acquiring software for mobile devices was complicated, often requiring downloads from various sources, each with a unique installation process. The App Store simplified how we obtain and use our smartphones by providing a centralized platform where users discover, purchase, and download apps directly to their devices. This streamlined, user-friendly, and crowdsourced model reshaped the distribution channel for mobile software.
Crowdsourcing Dev & Sharing the Cash The App Store created new ways for developers to monetize their software and apps. Software developers gain access to a global user base by hosting developer apps on Apple's platform. Apple's revenue-sharing model, where developers receive 70% of an app's sales, and Apple retains 30%, empowered global market research and product development, assuring Apple's customer base has many toys to play with and discover. Developers school together like fish working hard to meet Apple's rigorous standards as they help keep ios on technology's leading edge. This model incentivized developers to create more and higher quality apps, leading to an explosion in app development.
Redefining User Experiences The App Store made apps a central part of the smartphone experience. Whereas mobile devices previously got used mainly for calling and texting, the availability of various apps for different purposes (e.g., gaming, productivity, social media, etc.) transformed the smartphone into a versatile tool crucial for everyday life. The app store significantly enhanced the attractiveness of smartphones to consumers and drove adoption rates.
Setting Quality and Security Standards Apple's strict app review process ensures that apps on its platform meet high-quality standards and do not contain malicious software. This commitment to quality and security has protected users and pressured developers to produce better, safer apps, thus raising the industry standard.
Catalyzing Competition and Innovation The success of the App Store spurred competition, with Google, Amazon, and others creating their app marketplaces. This competition has further fueled innovation in the mobile and smartphone industry.
The Apple App Store significantly disrupted the mobile and smartphone industry, revolutionizing app distribution, monetization, user experiences, and industry standards. It has contributed to an app-centric approach to smartphone usage, making smartphones indispensable tools for daily life. BTW, the reason it was so easy for me to wake up in the middle of the night and start writing is my iPhone sleeps on the right side of the bed, and my Apple laptop is on the bed too, yet more evidence of how much I need a life (I know :).
The new OpenAI AI marketplaces will blow up AI as the Apple stores (online and in real life) added speed and fury to the acceptance of Apple's products. Here are a few benefits you, me, everyone we know, and OpenAI will gain from the proposed AI marketplace.
Easier Monetization An AI App Store by OpenAI will make it easier for all those tinkerers to make money, and that is a self-enlarging feedback loop. Reading about OpenAI app store, millionaires will launch a thousand new dreams. By providing a centralized marketplace, developers gain immediate access to a global audience, reducing the need for individual marketing efforts. As observed with Apple's App Store, developers can monetize their applications through upfront payment, in-app purchases, or subscription models. The platform could also manage payment processing, tax collection, and regulatory compliance, making it easier for developers to focus on creating valuable AI solutions.
Improved Understanding An AI App Store will educate customers about AI. Platforms create hive-like self-reinforcing feedback loops for content such as app descriptions, user reviews, and ratings. OpenAI won't need a leaderboard because competition will be fierce and constant. OpenAI's platform will need a system for categorizing and curating apps based on their functionality, making it easier for users to find relevant practical applications and manage expectations. A consistent, user-friendly interface will enhance usability and understanding.
Enhanced Usability App Stores create a consistent experience for users, buyers, and those who want to learn about AI. Like Apple's ecosystem, OpenAI's platform will ensure app compatibility and interoperability, enhancing usability in a pick 'em, pack 'em, trade 'em way. Additionally, the OpenAi's AI store could, like Apple, enforce quality and safety standards, ensuring all listed AI apps are secure and reliable, enhancing user trust and satisfaction.
OpenAI's AI marketplace could simplify how users and developers interact with AI applications. By facilitating easier monetization, improved understanding, and enhanced usability, such a platform will make AI even more accessible. However, developing such a platform is not for the faint of heart. Careful consideration of ethical guidelines and regulatory standards, ensuring AI gets used responsibly and equitably.
Crowdsourcing may be one of the most underutilized digital marketing strategies. Yet, statistics from a Nosto survey show almost 60% of consumers rated user-generated content (UGC) as the most authentic and trustworthy type of content.
Authenticity 88% of consumers say authenticity is important when deciding which brands they like and support (with 50% saying it's vital).
UGC 59% of consumers say user-generated content is the most authentic type.
Personalization 70% of consumers say it's essential for brands to create personalized experiences—up from 67% in 2019}.
Apple knows crowdsourcing is a great digital strategy, and so does the team at OpenAI, as their proposed AI Marketplace indicates. Here are a few reasons crowdsourcing is an excellent underutilized digital marketing strategy:
Consumer Engagement Crowdsourcing encourages active participation from consumers, thereby increasing their engagement with your website, content, and social media. Sharing your most valuable digital assets creates the trust your website needs to convert visitors to buyers. Engaged customers share your content, values, and website, effectively crowdsourcing your digital marketing.
ROI Crowdsourcing is a cost-effective marketing strategy, as it leverages the collective intelligence and creativity of a large group of people to reduce the costs associated with market research, product development, advertising, and failed marketing campaigns generating great returns on investment.
Market Insight Nothing helps prevent train wrecks such as Bud-Lash faster than asking for help from a trusted group of customers who love your company, brand, products, and website. By crowdsourcing ideas or feedback, you gain valuable insights into what your consumers want or need. Everything from product development to writing marketing copy gets easier when helpful crowds pitch in.
Content Creation Crowdsourcing generates a wealth of user-generated content, often viewed as more authentic and trustworthy than traditional advertising or branded website copy. Crowdsourcing also produces valuable data about who contributes, responds, and shares.
Viral Potential Watching that flood of data makes developing viral marketing an order of magnitude easier. Crowdsourced campaigns that include a contest or challenge can blow up fast, significantly increasing your brand's visibility and reach.
Consumer Empowerment Crowdsourcing can empower consumers by giving them a voice in the brand's decisions. Empowering your customers makes them feel valued and appreciated, which can strengthen their relationship with the brand.
Innovation Crowdsourcing drives innovation by bringing diverse perspectives and ideas together. Innovationcan help your brands stay competitive and relevant in a rapidly changing market.
Crowdsourcing can be a powerful marketing strategy with many benefits, from cost savings and great ROI to enlisting help from customers in everything from product development to email marketing. However, crowdsourcing also requires careful management to ensure that the process is fair, transparent, and beneficial for all parties involved. If you read that last sentence as our way of saying crowdsourcing is a lot of work, you're on it.