Amazon is about to be flooded with AI-generated video ads
New capabilities include motion improvements to show items in action, which Amazon says is best for showcasing products like toys, tools, and worn accessories. For example, Video Generator can now create clips that show someone wearing a watch on their wrist and checking the time, instead of simply displaying the watch on a table. The tool generates six different videos to choose from, and allows brands to add their logos to the finished results.
The Video Generator can now also make ads with multiple connected scenes that include humans, pets, text overlays, and background music. The editing timeline shown in Amazon's announcement video suggests the ads max out at 21 seconds.. The resulting ads edge closer to the traditional commercials we're used to seeing while watching TV or online content, compared to raw clips generated by video AI tools like OpenAI's Sora or Adobe Firefly.
A new video summarization feature can create condensed video ads from existing footage, such as demos, tutorials, and social media content. Amazon says Video Generator will automatically identify and extract key clips to generate new videos formatted for ad campaigns. A one-click image-to-video feature is also available that creates shorter GIF-style clips to show products in action.
We'll likely see Amazon retailers utilizing AI-generated video ads in the wild now that the tool is generally available in the US and costs nothing to use — unless the ads are so convincing that we don't notice anything at all.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Oil giant BP surprises with better than expected earnings
Oil giant BP, which recently pivoted away from green energy, posted Tuesday better-than-expected quarterly earnings and announced a fresh review of costs. The British group's return to profit in the second quarter contrasted with weaker results from energy rivals, as lower exceptional charges offset falling oil prices. Profit after tax came in at $1.63 billion in the April-June period, compared with a net loss of $129 million in the second quarter of 2024, BP said in an earnings statement. Stripping out exceptional items, underlying net profit was down nearly 15 percent. "This has been another strong quarter for BP operationally and strategically," chief executive Murray Auchincloss said in the earnings statement. BP on Monday said it made its biggest oil and gas discovery in 25 years off the coast of Brazil. In February, BP launched a major pivot back to its more profitable oil and gas business, shelving its once industry-leading targets on reducing carbon emissions and slashing clean energy investment. However, energy prices have come under pressure in recent months on concerns that US President Donald Trump's tariffs will hurt economic growth, while OPEC+ nations have produced more oil. BP managed to post a profit for the second quarter thanks to impairments which were lower than one year earlier, along with a revaluation of assets -- notably in relation to liquefied natural gas (LNG) -- and divestments. - Sector woes - By contrast, US rivals ExxonMobil and Chevron, along with French group TotalEnergies, posted heavy falls to their net profits in the second quarter. As did oil giant Saudi Aramco, which on Tuesday announced its 10th straight drop in quarterly profits as a slump in prices hit revenues. The average price for Brent North Sea crude, the international benchmark, stood at $67.9 per barrel in the second quarter, down from $85 one year earlier. British rival Shell still managed to post a slight increase to its profit after tax for the latest reporting period. As for BP, Auchincloss said the company was launching "a further cost review and, whilst we will not compromise on safety, we are doing this with a view to being best in class in our industry". Shares in BP gained 2.2 percent in London morning deals following its results and news of a fresh dividend and share buyback. "A slick turnaround plan pumped up BP's second-quarter results," noted Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown. "Despite lower oil and gas prices, it's managed to push underlying profits up by nearly $1 billion from the first quarter to $2.4 billion, well ahead of analyst forecasts." Nathan added that "shareholders will be glad to see this matched with financial discipline". BP already announced plans this year to cut cleaner energy investment by more than $5 billion annually and offload assets worth a total of $20 billion by 2027. It recently agreed to sell its onshore wind energy business in the United States, while Shell has also scaled back its climate objectives. BP last month named Albert Manifold as its new chairman, replacing Helge Lund, whose departure was announced amid the strategy reset. The group's net profit plunged 70 percent in its first quarter, hit by weaker oil prices. burs-bcp/ajb/lth
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Palantir shares jump as soaring AI demand powers forecast upgrade
(Reuters) -Palantir Technologies shares rose 5% before the bell on Tuesday, after strong demand for its AI-powered services across governments and commercial businesses prompted an increase in its annual revenue forecast. Investors have been betting big on the data analytics and defense software company's military-grade artificial intelligence tools and services, which have propelled its shares to more than double in value this year, making them the best performer on the S&P 500 index through last close. "Palantir's staggering growth is showing no signs of slowing... and (its) ability to grow at scale has been underestimated by a large cohort of the market," said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. The company raised its annual revenue forecast for the second time this year and above Wall Street estimates. Sales to the U.S. government jumped 53% to $426 million, representing more than 42% of the total second-quarter revenue of about $1 billion. Last week, the U.S. Army said it might spend up to $10 billion on Palantir's services over the next decade. The Denver, Colorado-based company, co-founded by Peter Thiel, expects expenses to rise significantly in the third quarter due to seasonal hiring amid rising competition among industry leading tech firms to poach top talent, as businesses rapidly look to adopt AI. The stock trades at over 200 times its 12-month forward earnings estimates, compared with AI giant Nvidia's 34.81 and S&P 500's 27.44. Jefferies analysts cautioned that there is a "disconnect between valuation and achievable growth". At least six brokerages raised their price targets on the stock after the results. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump's 'good economic news' is awfully murky
Bonanza what? Re "Trump delivers bonanza of good economic news for U.S.," Aug. 1: I'm not sure what 'bonanza of good economic news' the president is said to have delivered, as Nicole Russell claims in her opinion piece. But here is a quote from a Wall Street Journal article by Paul Kiernan, published the same day: '… official data this week showed a marked slowdown in economic output and consumer spending, followed by a jarringly weak jobs report. Where things go from here is murky.' Russell, please note: that's Paul Kiernan, not Paul Krugman. Yet Kiernan's reporting and the data seem to support Krugman's concerns about the state of the economy. Nicole Russell: "Trump delivers bonanza of good economic news for U.S. If this is bonanza, one shudders to think what the bad news feels like. Manoj Choudhary, Reynoldsburg Honoring a man who always prioritized people I am writing to express profound appreciation for the well-deserved recognition of the late former Ohio Director of Agriculture Steve Mauer on Aug. 1, inducted posthumously into the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame. As a longtime admirer of Steve's contributions to our community and the broader agricultural landscape, I was deeply moved by the tribute paid to him at the Ohio Ag Council Hall of Fame Breakfast. Steve, also twice appointed Ohio State executive director for the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency by Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, embodied the spirit of Ohio agriculture — a visionary leader whose dedication to all things Ohio , advocacy for rural communities and mentorship of future generations left a lasting mark. He championed diversifying Ohio crop production, helped establish Ohio's organic certification program and opened up new international markets for Ohio agricultural products. Above it all, he genuinely cared about and always prioritized people. He not only advanced our industry but also inspired countless individuals, myself included. The hall of fame's decision to honor Steve celebrates more than his legacy; it reaffirms the values of perseverance, integrity and stewardship that define Ohio's agricultural heritage. Seeing his wife Amy and their family accept this accolade was a poignant reminder of the lives he touched and the enduring impact of his work. Thank you to the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame for ensuring that Steve Mauer's contributions will never be forgotten. This recognition not only honors his memory but also inspires all of us to carry forward his passion for progress and community. Tim Sword, Agricultural Export Administrator, Ohio Department of Agriculture LifeWise and Tressel Re letter to the editor "Full background checks shouldn't be optional," Aug. 1: Coincidence that the letter to the editor from Dave Schwendenman about LifeWise Academy's failure to put basic safeguards in place for the children they remove from class during school hours was immediately followed by the "Tressel for Ohio governor" letter from Keith Luck? It should be lost on no one that Tressel's name will be on the LifeWise training room when their new national headquarters opens in Hilliard this year. Sue Miller, Columbus This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Good news for the economy? Data begs to differ | Letters Solve the daily Crossword
